
John Cafferkey - Programme Leader
John is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the BA Journalism and MA Sports Journalism. John worked for the BBC in news and sports programmes before moving into education. He is Programme Leader for the BA Journalism and MA Sports Journalism. He teaches Television News Production and Sports Journalism. His subject specialisms are Sport Journalism and Broadcast Journalism.
Academic Staff List Make an EnquiryWelcome to MA Journalism (Sports)
Now an essential part of many news organisations, sports journalism has become a well-respected element of the media. Combining a passion for sports with the practical skills of being a journalist, this Master's programme aims to prepare graduates for a career in this exciting arena.
At Lincoln, a digital news room culture offers students the chance to develop the skills needed to report on local and national sporting events. Alongside a series of practical workshops and seminars, students have the opportunity to broadcast and produce their own sports content.
Students have the chance to undertake a ten-day work placement, allowing them to gain hands-on experience. Previous students have secured placements with BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT, and ITV. Please note that students are responsible for their travel, accommodation, and general living costs while undertaking a work placement.
Students on this course may also have the opportunity to hear from a number of guest speakers. Previous speakers have included BBC Director of London 2012 Roger Mosey, Controller of 5 Live Jonathan Wall, Editor of FourFourTwo David Hall, and ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley.
How You Study
Study on this programme will be a blend of practical workshops, lectures, and seminars. The University of Lincoln also boasts an extensive academic library, which students can use for independent study.
An Introduction to Your Modules
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
How you are assessed
Assessments are a mixture of essays, presentations, portfolios of journalism, broadcast media packages, and timed examinations.
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.
Fees and Funding
For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master's and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages.
Programme-Specific Additional Costs
For each course you may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required, depending on your course.
With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, you may prefer to purchase some of these for yourself and you will be responsible for this cost.
Entry Requirements 2023-24
First or second class honours degree or equivalent professional experience.
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/ for information on equivalent qualifications.
Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses. https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/ . These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.
Accreditations
The School of English and Journalism is one of the first institutions in Europe to be awarded a 'Recognised for Excellence' accolade by the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA).
Research Areas, Projects and Topics
Key research areas in the department include:
- Contemporary Issues in Sports Journalism
- Specialist Sports Reporting and Production
- Business of Sport
- Law and Institutions
- Core Broadcast
Days Taught
Where possible, core sessions are scheduled on Thursday and Friday, although students may be required to attend on other days of the week depending on module options. Full time students should expect approximately 12 hours of contact time per week and should be prepared to undertake at least two hours of self-study for every taught hour.
Career and Personal Development
A career in Sports Journalism can provide a stimulating and rewarding environment, working to tight deadlines in an ever-changing landscape while writing about a topic you are passionate about.
Graduates from MSc Journalism Sport can develop the skills needed for a career in print media, broadcasting, or online.
Postgraduate Events
Find out more about how postgraduate study can help further your career, develop your knowledge, or even prepare you to start your own business at one of our postgraduate events.
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