Sports Journalism

101

Just a quick question re Sports Journalism. I have been in the Travel and Tourism industry now since leaving school at age 16. I think now it is time for a change of direction and i feel i would quiet like to get into sports Journalism (no laughing at the back :-)). So i wondered if anyone on here knew the best way for me to get ahead in this industry.

I am guessing i would have to go back to college or even Uni to begin my new career choice and i have had a look at some college broachures but just wondered if any of you on here know the best course to get me strated or the best way to go about it.

Miserableoldgit

Contact Jonathon Ackworth for some advice.

stonemuse

Good idea MOG ... may as well go straight to the expert.

101

[cite]Posted By: Miserableold-ish git[/cite]Contact Jonathon Ackworth for some advice.

Ok should i whisper him then? What sort of advice do you think he could give hes a sports journalist at the mo then is he?

Fortune Costa Fish

I imagine you'd first need to get a good A level in English, before going to uni to study sports jounalism. After that i'm not sure.

Alternatively, and this would be a bit of a long-shot, you could try writing an article or two then approach a paper, magazine or website, and see if they'd be interested in running with it.

Henry Irving

amazing how you can write so articully when you want to but u is all deptford green like random innit other times. : - )

Go for it If you want it but there is a lot of competition. Try writing for a local paper or even Charlton life to build up a portfolio. And try less popular sports as less competition.

Good luck.

March51

I understand hat the ability to consume the occasional beer is also required.

Henry Irving

better to whisper newshopper and airman brown who would know a bit more than ackworth

101

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]amazing how you can write so articully when you want to but u is all deptford green like random innit other times. : - )

Go for it If you want it but there is a lot of competition. Try writing for a local paper or even Charlton life to build up a portfolio. And try less popular sports as less competition.

Good luck.

LOL yea i know if i want to my English is quite good its living in Kent for all these years :-).

Do you think we could get something going for Charlton life. A sort of set up were i must go away and research then come back with like a weekly discussion, update or bulletin would probably be the best experice for me i should imagine.I would be very excited to do something like that and would give it full concentration as the experience could be invaluable. Who do you think the best person to talk to about getting some sort of set up with Charltolife going may be Henry?

I deffinatly agree with you on the other less popular sports point you made and thought i would probably have to go down that route as the competition in this industry is fierce.

Thanks for all your help.

T_C_E

You could whisper Crispycafc, who is at Southampton university studying sports jounalism, He dont get on here to often, so if you dont get a response whisper me and I'll get him to email you.

AFKABartram

[cite]Posted By: Ru1986[/cite] Who do you think the best person to talk to about getting some sort of set up with Charltolife going ?

I believe he is away at the moment and won't be around again until November at the earliest.

101

[cite]Posted By: T.C.E[/cite]You could whisper Crispycafc, who is at Southampton university studying sports jounalism, He dont get on here to often, so if you dont get a response whisper me and I'll get him to email you.

Thanks mate i have whispered him and i will let you know if i get a reply. Thanks :-)

T_C_E

[cite]Posted By: Ru1986[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: T.C.E[/cite]You could whisper Crispycafc, who is at Southampton university studying sports jounalism, He dont get on here to often, so if you dont get a response whisper me and I'll get him to email you.

Thanks mate i have whispered him and i will let you know if i get a reply. Thanks :-)

Rupert, I'll be having a beer with his Dad on tuesday I'll mention it.

stonemuse

[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]better to whisper newshopper and airman brown who would know a bit more than ackworth

No, refuse to believe that anyone knows more than Jonathan. His fanzine input was phenomenal and Your Views just wouldn't be the same without him (apparently) ... not forgetting he has written a book about Charlton.

ads

you could try writing a few bits and sending them to 'when saturday comes', if they get published it'd be a good addition to building a portfolio

News Shopper

[quote][cite]Posted By: Ru1986[/cite]Just a quick question re Sports Journalism. I have been in the Travel and Tourism industry now since leaving school at age 16. I think now it is time for a change of direction and i feel i would quiet like to get into sports Journalism (no laughing at the back :-)). So i wondered if anyone on here knew the best way for me to get ahead in this industry.

I am guessing i would have to go back to college or even Uni to begin my new career choice and i have had a look at some college broachures but just wondered if any of you on here know the best course to get me strated or the best way to go about it.[/quote]

You will have to take a qualification called the NCTJ (National Coucil for the Training of Journalists) pre-entry certficate where you will learn shorthand, law and politics before most papers will even consider you.

The courses can last in length from four months to one year and can even be done as a correspondence course, although I wouldn't recommend that option.

Your best bet is to check out a list of the courses at the NCTJ website and begin your search from there

http://nctj.com/

Good luck!

News Shopper

[quote][cite]Posted By: March51[/cite]I understand hat the ability to consume the occasional beer is also required.[/quote]

Absolutely : )

ads

and the ability to talk out of your arse!

superclive

I know cafc sorted it out for crispy to come in the press lounge and write a report on a game for his course. If u go for it ru its worth doing the same if poss

March51

Yes, CAFC allowed March Jnr. to film the team training etc at Sparrows Lane which helped him with his media project at the Brits some years ago They were very helpful.

Airman Brown

I don't disagree with News Shopper, but the main thing is to get your foot in the door. A previous News Shopper sports editor did this by helpimg out unpaid at the Mercury for a year, got a job on the Shopper through that and then went on to become the Notts County reporter on the Nottingham Evening Post.

I never did any training either, but I was lucky to have the support of Mercury sports editor Peter Cordwell who I met through the Valley campaign, so I was able to progress through freelance to casual shifts to sports editor and staff, and then went to work for Charlton. But if I wanted to get a job in the business now I'd probably struggle to make my case because of a lack of relevant qualifications and I don't think a reference from CAFC employment would be taken seriously by a media company.

guinnessaddick

[cite]Posted By: Airman Brown[/cite] I don't think a reference from CAFC employment would be taken seriously by a media company.

Hasn't stopped Dowie on SSN.

Airman Brown

LOL

PL54

http://www.charltonlife.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=29987&page=1


This Gillingham guy didn't get where is now by not using spell check Ru

Ollywozere

I studied Journalism at the London College of Communication (University of Arts London) and worked closely with the sports journalists which seemed to be a very good course. Worth considering.

ken from bexley

Well you could try and get a work placement at the bbc in the sports department, https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc03.asp?newms=info06
or on the sports desk at 5 live, or on the website of one of the associated departments, such as the Olympics that are coming up, The world service covered the African Nations cup at the bbc recently, you have to think a little 'creative' as they say.

Working at the bbc everyone seems to have a degree!, and the LCP is a good course. Emap used to have a graduate journalism scheme which seemed worthwhile. When you consider Matthew Pinsett found it hard to cut it at the bbc it gives you an idea of how valued these jobs are.I worked with Peter Cordwell on the football handbook decades ago as the art editor, he has a good contact book, and used to publish the local football magazine for the Bexley league. Local press was the way in years ago, I am unsure now though they are in a terrible mess, they never stop winging about the lack of revenue, due to the the bbc eh Newshopper!.....

I am doing a project with the football foundation so there are opportunities out there, good luck mate.

Goonerhater

Sports journalism ? oximoron surely ?

As Ken said re BBC you would need a degree. Suggest you study Socialism and other fairy tales or Marzism (their best film was Duck Soup). Or if you thinking of going to the Daily mail i have a copy of Mein Kamf you can gen up on. Better to go for the Guardian mate as dont matter what bollox you write some on here would believe it.

Algarveaddick

You have to be very good at making stuff up, you would have to give up Charlton and kiss the collective arses of the Sky 4 on a regular basis, and take every opportunity to undermine the efforts of any smaller club to hold on to their rising stars.

101

Thanks for all the advice guys i will let you know how i get on and i will check the links out when not at work.

Thanks again.

Valley11

I'd think very carefully about it.
The pay is (generally) awful and if it's sport you want to write about then you have to consider that your hobby will become your job - which can take some of the enjoyment out of something you would normally do voluntarily.

I'm not trying to put you off though. If you're a responsible journalist and work hard, the positives outweigh the negatives.

Good luck.

101

[cite]Posted By: ken from bexley[/cite]Well you could try and get a work placement at the bbc in the sports department,https://jobs.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc03.asp?newms=info06
or on the sports desk at 5 live, or on the website of one of the associated departments, such as the Olympics that are coming up, The world service covered the African Nations cup at the bbc recently, you have to think a little 'creative' as they say.

Working at the bbc everyone seems to have a degree!, and the LCP is a good course. Emap used to have a graduate journalism scheme which seemed worthwhile. When you consider Matthew Pinsett found it hard to cut it at the bbc it gives you an idea of how valued these jobs are.I worked with Peter Cordwell on the football handbook decades ago as the art editor, he has a good contact book, and used to publish the local football magazine for the Bexley league. Local press was the way in years ago, I am unsure now though they are in a terrible mess, they never stop winging about the lack of revenue, due to the the bbc eh Newshopper!.....

I am doing a project with the football foundation so there are opportunities out there, good luck mate.

Ken thankyou vey much for this advice and link i will check the link out when im not at work not sure it would be appriciated :-).

Thanks again mate.