Modules

Module title: Sports Journalism
SCQF level: 08:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: JAC08115
Module leader: Allan Boughey
School School of Arts and Creative Industries
Subject area group: Media and Screen
Prerequisites

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2019/0, Trimester 2, Face-to-Face,
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Face-to-Face
Location of delivery: MERCHISTON
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Allan Boughey
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
The module is taught using a weekly two-hour workshop that may incorporate lectures and seminars as well as practical work, research and presentations. The usual two-hour session may also be extended on occasion (for instance, in order to conduct voxpops in the local community or to attend a group filming day at a live sports event). The emphasis will be on practical sports journalism content creation, from writing pieces for print to creating audio and digital packages (LOs 1, 2 and 3). In addition, there will be several field trips: firstly, to attend press briefings (such as at professional football or rugby clubs); and secondly, to watch live sport (at professional and amateur level). The field trips will present opportunities to practice “live” reporting (LO3) and interview sports professionals, such as players, coaches or admin staff (LO 4). In this respect, there will also be advice and guidance from working sports journalists. Both the classes and field trips will provide opportunities to create various pieces of practical work. These can be submitted for formative feedback to help enhance and improve your sports writing skills as well as your wider knowledge and understanding of sports journalism. The weekly workshops will also consider a wide range of sports journalism theories with individual focus on areas of specific interest: for example, how the media portrays female sports players or Paralympians (LOs 5 and 6). Again, draft work and ideas can be submitted for formative feedback. Individual tutorials will also be staged to ensure each student is developing both their practical skills and theoretical knowledge of the subject area: feedback will be offered in this context too.

Formative Assessment:
The module will offer the opportunity for students to create formative pieces that can be handed to tutors for feedback in advance of the practical assignments required in the summative assessments.
Summative assessments are:

1: Essay of 1,250 words that critically analyses an aspect of sports journalism (such as, how sports women are portrayed in the media, the role of social media in sports reporting, or the changing needs of the TV sports audience). You should draw on relevant theory to support, underpin and contextualise the points you make. You should include references in the essay itself, as well as a bibliography. The essay specifically covers and evidences learning outcomes 4, 5 & 6 while further supporting learning outcomes 1 to 3.

2: Portfolio of sports journalism (up to 2000 words total) – exact content will be discussed and agreed with the module tutors but items may include a sports news story, a match report, and a feature / profile piece. You may create work for print, online or broadcast – all in the same medium or in different ones. The news story should be no more than 350 words for print, 55 seconds for radio or 30 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). The match report should include reaction (quotes) and be no longer than 650 words, 90 seconds for radio or 45 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). The feature / profile should be no longer that 1000 words, 120 seconds for radio or 60 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). Together, the three pieces cover and evidence


Summative Assessment:
The module will offer the opportunity for students to create formative pieces that can be handed to tutors for feedback in advance of the practical assignments required in the summative assessments.
Summative assessments are:

1: Essay of 1,250 words that critically analyses an aspect of sports journalism (such as, how sports women are portrayed in the media, the role of social media in sports reporting, or the changing needs of the TV sports audience). You should draw on relevant theory to support, underpin and contextualise the points you make. You should include references in the essay itself, as well as a bibliography. The essay specifically covers and evidences learning outcomes 4, 5 & 6 while further supporting learning outcomes 1 to 3.

2: Portfolio of sports journalism (up to 2000 words total) – exact content will be discussed and agreed with the module tutors but items may include a sports news story, a match report, and a feature / profile piece. You may create work for print, online or broadcast – all in the same medium or in different ones. The news story should be no more than 350 words for print, 55 seconds for radio or 30 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). The match report should include reaction (quotes) and be no longer than 650 words, 90 seconds for radio or 45 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). The feature / profile should be no longer that 1000 words, 120 seconds for radio or 60 seconds for TV (online should include mixed media approaches). Together, the three pieces cover and evidence


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Tutorial 24
Face To Face External visits 16
Face To Face External visits 16
Independent Learning Guided independent study 144
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Essay 35 1-6 8 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 1250
Portfolio 65 1-6 13 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2000
Component 1 subtotal: 35
Component 2 subtotal: 65
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

The module will ask you to consider the key issues affecting sports journalism and engage you with contemporary sports journalism theory. The module will further engage you in a range of sports writing styles including the construction of a sports news story, a “live” sports event report as well as a feature article or profile piece. These pieces may be created in a variety of formats and mediums (print, online or broadcast). At the end of the module, you should feel able to produce a piece of sports journalism that is coherent, informative and interesting.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
LO1: Demonstrate an ability to create sports news, live match reports and sports features across print, broadcast and online platforms;
LO2: Show an understanding of the differences between creating content for traditional and digital sports media;
LO3: Demonstrate a practical ability to analyse and comment upon live sports events;
LO4: Understand and recognise the changing nature and needs of sports media and the sports information marketplace;
LO5: Compare academic ideas about sports journalism;
LO6: Undertake independent learning on concepts of sports journalism.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
JAC08115 Sports journalism
 

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