COURSE CURRICULUM

Sports Journalism at the University of Derby is a practical, industry-focused degree designed to prepare students for careers in modern sports media. The course reflects the changing journalism landscape by integrating traditional reporting skills with emerging areas such as e-sports, videography, commentary, podcasting, social media management, and data journalism. Students gain extensive hands-on experience covering live sporting events, producing news stories, match reports, athlete interviews, podcasts, feature articles, blogs, and multimedia content while learning to work under professional newsroom deadlines. In the first year, modules such as Event Reporting, Introduction to Video Skills, Journalism in Society, Media Law, Newswriting in Football and Sport, and Social Media Practice in Sports develop core reporting, interviewing, writing, legal awareness, and digital storytelling skills. During the second year, students build professional expertise through Sports Club Communications and The Sports Newsroom while choosing optional modules including Videography, E-Sports, Fashion Journalism, Feature Writing, Future Trends in Journalism, and Multi-platform Journalism News Days, enabling them to specialise in areas of interest. The final year focuses on advanced professional practice through Utilising Social Media in Sport and a major Journalism Project, supported by optional modules such as Commentary and Punditry, Podcasting and Live Radio, Data Science and Data Journalism, Digital Journalism: Advanced Tech & Tactics, Professional Development, Start Up Journalism, and Video Newsdays. Students learn how sports organisations, clubs, governing bodies, and athletes communicate with audiences, create engaging digital content, and build media strategies across multiple platforms. Throughout the programme, students analyse contemporary journalism practices while producing professional-quality content for real audiences, helping them develop strong portfolios and industry-ready skills. Graduates leave with expertise in multimedia storytelling, live event coverage, content creation, digital communication, media law, social media strategy, and sports reporting, preparing them for careers as sports journalists, broadcasters, digital content creators, social media managers, commentators, sports communications professionals, and multimedia producers across television, radio, print, online, and sports organisations.