COURSE CURRICULUM

Football Journalism at the University of Derby is a highly practical and industry-focused degree designed to prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving football media sector. The course benefits from an official partnership with Derby County Football Club, providing students with unique opportunities to attend matches from the press box, cover post-match press conferences, interview players and coaching staff, access training facilities, and undertake placement opportunities with the club. Students gain extensive hands-on experience in multimedia football reporting, video production, social media management, sports writing, interviewing, and digital storytelling while learning from experienced journalists and industry professionals. In the first year, core modules such as Introduction to Video Skills, Journalism in Society, Media Law, Multimedia Football Reporting, Newswriting in Football and Sport, and Social Media Practice in Football establish strong foundations in reporting, video journalism, legal and ethical practice, and digital communication. As the programme progresses, students develop specialist expertise through modules including Sports Club Communications, The Sports Newsroom, Utilising Social Media in Sport, and Journalism Project, alongside optional subjects such as Commentary and Punditry, Podcasting and Live Radio, Data Science and Data Journalism, E-Sports, Minority Sport, Professional Development, and Start Up Journalism. Learning is centred on practical newsroom experiences, live event coverage, multimedia production, and real-world assignments that reflect professional football journalism environments. Students build an impressive portfolio featuring match reports, podcasts, feature articles, video packages, live social media content, interviews, and digital journalism projects. Graduates develop strong communication, reporting, multimedia production, interviewing, digital marketing, and content creation skills, preparing them for careers as football journalists, sports reporters, multimedia producers, social media managers, digital content creators, commentators, broadcasters, communications officers, sports editors, and media professionals across football clubs, sports organisations, digital media companies, television, radio, and online publishing platforms.