Sports Journalism (Nctj)
Are you a keen, passionate sports fan? Well - how does the idea of getting paid to write about your favourite sports sound?
This course is for anyone who wants a career in the absorbing and exciting world of sports journalism.
Our Sports Journalism Course is for anyone who wants to break into the absorbing and exciting world of sports journalism.
We have students on this course who work for Manchester United FC and who are preparing to cover the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
We have others who write about everything from horse racing to cricket and Premiership football to professional tennis.
Is this a proper course?
Yes, we are recognised by the UK Government and are fully accredited.
Who is the course for?
The Sports Journalism Course is ideal for beginners - it covers the basic skills of journalism, focusing on the essentials of sports writing.
It will equip you to write sports reports and articles for national papers, local papers, magazines and websites.
What does it cover?
• A sports journalist’s job and qualities
• Copy presentation
• Notebook discipline
• Contacts book
• House style
• Contacts and how to make them
• Interviewing – face to face and by phone
• Newspaper terminology
• How to write in newspaper style
• The intro
• Story construction
• Use of quotes
• Writing fillers
• Ethics and the PCC Code of Conduct
• Reference sources
• Match reports
• Human interest stories
• Feature writing
• Working from press releases and handouts
• Covering press conferences and speeches
• Schools and sports clubs involving children
• Job finding
• Your CV
• Preparing for job interviews
• The freelance sports journalist:
o Identifying suitable markets
o Analysing markets
o Coming up with original story ideas
o Making a sale
o Getting paid and keeping records
How long will the course take?
It's up to you. You can work at your own speed, and fit your studies around your other commitments. But as a rough guide, this course takes around three to six months to complete.
Who is my tutor?
Your tutor will be Cleland Thom, who is recognised as one of the UK's leading trainers.
What qualifications will I get?
The CTJT Diploma, which is accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council.
What is this qualification worth?
The Diploma is widely recognised right across the media, mainly due to the large number of organisations where we have delivered training courses and have personal contacts. Check them out.
What can I expect to do at the end of the course?
The course will equip you to write for magazines, websites, local and national papers, and radio and TV stations. Our students are usually able to get work published - and get paid for it - after completing the course. You could also go on to take the National Council for the Training of Journalists exams.
How many hours a week do I spend studying?
It's entirely up to you. With home study, you work at your own pace. You can do extra work when things are quiet, and work more slowly, or take time out from the course if you are busy.
When can I start?
Any time you like - straight away if you want to!
Is there careers guidance and support?
Yes, you can email your tutor any time.
Can I contact other students before enrolling?
Yes, definitely - we encourage this. Email us if you would like us to put you in touch with them. We would prefer you to speak to them directly, rather than take our word for things.
How do I enrol?
You can enrol online by contacting us today. There are several options available to you for payment.
Do I have to sign anything?
Yes, we ask you to accept our Student Learning Agreement. This is binding on you - and us, so we both know where we stand. Please read the SLA carefully before you enrol.
What happens after I enrol?
Once you have enrolled, we will contact you by email the same working day.
If you pay using PayPal, they will email us once your payment has been processed. We will then enrol you as soon as possible - the same working day.
We will send you your introductory course materials and first Module, using the email address you provided PayPal.
Our offices are open Monday-Friday, 9am - 5.30pm GMT. If you enrol during evenings or weekends, we will be in touch as soon as we open again.
