University

[Benji]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH it's killing me

I'm like a quitting smoker, twitching while stopping myself picking up the phone

[Tabou]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH it's killing me

I'm like a quitting smoker, twitching while stopping myself picking up the phone

Real Smokers don't quit.

Go to the gym mate. Last thing you want to do in your situation, however appealing it may seem, is to drink.

[Joe.]

Anybody looking or had any experience dealing with Journalism at university? Looking definite for me to study it next year in some shape or form. I've found a few courses that look good, but then I've also found some non-uni course such as this which also look quite decent.

Bit of a stab in the dark but anybody know much about any of this?

[Fez of Mahrez]

Anybody looking or had any experience dealing with Journalism at university? Looking definite for me to study it next year in some shape or form. I've found a few courses that look good, but then I've also found some non-uni course such as this which also look quite decent.

Bit of a stab in the dark but anybody know much about any of this?

Have you considered doing a more general degree and then doing a NCTJ-accredited postgrad?

[Katy]

Anybody looking or had any experience dealing with Journalism at university? Looking definite for me to study it next year in some shape or form. I've found a few courses that look good, but then I've also found some non-uni course such as this which also look quite decent.

Bit of a stab in the dark but anybody know much about any of this?

Scowy is in his second year at Journalism at DMU. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you bending his ear about it

[Joe.]

Have you considered doing a more general degree and then doing a NCTJ-accredited postgrad?

Currently my first choice is the Sports Journalism degree provided by Brighton University, but I'm still open to other degrees out there. A lot of the degrees available offer proper NCTJ qualifications anyway so getting them can be done in the three years.

I'm still unsure as to whether doing a purely sports journalism degree will hinder my future chances, I've had mixed replies from people on that one.

[AoWW]

Currently my first choice is the Sports Journalism degree provided by Brighton University, but I'm still open to other degrees out there. A lot of the degrees available offer proper NCTJ qualifications anyway so getting them can be done in the three years.

I'm still unsure as to whether doing a purely sports journalism degree will hinder my future chances, I've had mixed replies from people on that one.

I know a little about it. Really depends on what you're trying to find out. Feel free to PM me or ask away on here. Personally, I think that if sports journalism is what you really want to get into then go for a specialist degree - it shows commitment to that specific aspect. Plus, tutors and lecturers will be far more knowledgeable and the degree is obviously more tailored... contacts are all important in journalism (or any media-related career) and, again, you're more likely to get an 'in' from a specialist degree. However, if you're still unsure quite where you see your future heading then a general journalism degree is probably the better option.

Sorry - haven't yet clicked your link to look at the other option/s. Will have a look.

[Joe.]

Thanks for the advice AOWW.

From what I've asked people before, going specialist is what I've had the most positive feedback from. I think I'd enjoy doing the degree in sports journalism a lot more anyway as I'd have a much better interest in it from the off.

Cheers people.

[AoWW]

... this ...

Erm, nooooo, wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. I have heard of the courses/company but not particularly favourably although, in fairness, I have no first-hand experience of it myself nor do I know much directly from people who studied with them. The feeling I get though is that these kind of 'commercial' courses are not valued by the industry and, whilst you may be lucky enough to still be successful through it, you will always have to justify why you chose this over the more traditional 'university-educated' route.

By no means do I advocate Uni as being the best option for everyone but, imo, if you're serious about journalism it's the way to go.

[Daggers]

Currently my first choice is the Sports Journalism degree

Everyone I know who has obtained a post as a sports journo on a major rag has done so by graft rather than a dedicated degree. Maybe they work - but I suspect the opportunities for such an inroad are limited. My brother & mates all did normal degrees before taking the Fez-approved NCTJ course after graduation...and almost all cut their teeth on local rags covering Golden Weddings with one starting on Fruit Monthly (or somesuch).

It's be far better to be doing a good degree and be getting published than a narrow-focused course IMO.

Whatever you choose, good luck Joe

[Joe.]

Erm, nooooo, wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. I have heard of the courses/company but not particularly favourably although, in fairness, I have no first-hand experience of it myself nor do I know much directly from people who studied with them. The feeling I get though is that these kind of 'commercial' courses are not valued by the industry and, whilst you may be lucky enough to still be successful through it, you will always have to justify why you chose this over the more traditional 'university-educated' route.

By no means do I advocate Uni as being the best option for everyone but, imo, if you're serious about journalism it's the way to go.

I'd only seen that alternative course today to be honest, I haven't given a great deal of thought to it, it was just there as another option. Thanks for the word of warning.

Currently I'm looking at these degrees: Sports Journalism (Brighton)(BBB required), Journalism (Sheffield)(ABB), Journalism and the News Industry (Kent)(BBB) and Multi-media Journalism (Bournemouth)(300 points).

If I can get the grades I'm fairly sure the sports one if the one for me. Going to the open day on the 11th October to find out more.

[Joe.]

Everyone I know who has obtained a post as a sports journo on a major rag has done so by graft rather than a dedicated degree. Maybe they work - but I suspect the opportunities for such an inroad are limited. My brother & mates all did normal degrees before taking the Fez-approved NCTJ course after graduation...and almost all cut their teeth on local rags covering Golden Weddings with one starting on Fruit Monthly (or somesuch).

It's be far better to be doing a good degree and be getting published than a narrow-focused course IMO.

Whatever you choose, good luck Joe

Cheers Daggers.

Y'see this is the problem! Two different accounts of doing a specialised degree: Some have said to me it might be best to go down the specialist route and others have pointed out what you've just said, in the respect that it may not be broad enough to get anywhere.

[Daggers]

I'd only seen that alternative course today to be honest, I haven't given a great deal of thought to it, it was just there as another option. Thanks for the word of warning.

Currently I'm looking at these degrees: Sports Journalism (Brighton)(BBB required), Journalism (Sheffield)(ABB), Journalism and the News Industry (Kent)(BBB) and Multi-media Journalism (Bournemouth)(300 points).

If I can get the grades I'm fairly sure the sports one if the one for me. Going to the open day on the 11th October to find out more.

Skipping over my previous post - Sheffield is highly regarded as a source of journos, they have some quality lecturers. Pass your course and you'll be covering the opening of garden fetes before you know it. A year later and you'll be sent out to cover the local team.

[Joe.]

Skipping over my previous post - Sheffield is highly regarded as a source of journos, they have some quality lecturers. Pass your course and you'll be covering the opening of garden fetes before you know it. A year later and you'll be sent out to cover the local team.

Yeah, looking at the entry requirements alone it looks like it has a high standard. If I'm honest I think that may be a little out of my reach, but it's not totally out of the question just yet.

Once I've visited some open days and spoken to some more people it may become a little clearer for me. Thanks for the advice so far.

[Daggers]

Cheers Daggers.

Y'see this is the problem! Two different accounts of doing a specialised degree: Some have said to me it might be best to go down the specialist route and others have pointed out what you've just said, in the respect that it may not be broad enough to get anywhere.

The trouble is that you should focus on a specialised route if you are an outstanding candidate - and remember that opportunities will be VERY limited.

Moving within journalism from one area to the next is a fluid situation, specialism is not (as a rule) a sought after commodity.

Seriously, my brother did a Geography degree before his self-funded NCTJ and he went from News to Pop to Sports. My best mate went from Media Studies to NCTJ to Fruit Fanciers monthly (or something) before becoming a mainstay at the Guardian and the Times. Not one person I know did a dedicated course, they all did general degrees before journo qualifications and they have all gone on to either major national magazines or the big pape's.

I probably don't want to say 'do this' but more 'don't feel pressured by anyone as there will always be alternatives'.

*** No liability is accepted for the nosediving of a future career if any of the above advise is followed ***

[AoWW]

Cheers Daggers.

Y'see this is the problem! Two different accounts of doing a specialised degree: Some have said to me it might be best to go down the specialist route and others have pointed out what you've just said, in the respect that it may not be broad enough to get anywhere.

Skipping over my previous post - Sheffield is highly regarded as a source of journos, they have some quality lecturers. Pass your course and you'll be covering the opening of garden fetes before you know it. A year later and you'll be sent out to cover the local team.

:laugh: Glad mine and Daggers' conflicting opinions will have cleared things up for you!

Doing a general journo degree is fine - if you want to then get stuck writing obits for the local rag before being shunted into something glamorous like 'agriculture corner' because that's where a 'exciting opportunity for progression' happens to arise. Eventually, if you're lucky, you might be sent out to cover the local carpet bowls tournament.

Worst case scenario if you take the sports journo route is that the above happens anyway. But you stand a far better chance of leapfrogging the more mundane stuff and getting directly into the sports pages because of the commitment you've shown to a particular route over a sustained period of time. Far too often 'sports journalists' (and I'm talking local papers mainly here) simply end up doing by accident as an editor realises one day over a pint that they know a little about sport. If that's where your aspirations lie then that's all well and good but I'm assuming, in the long run, you're ambitious enough to be aiming for the nationals or specialist magazines who'll be receiving countless CVs from those who've taken the more general approach and have nothing to set them apart from the rest of the crowd.

Just my tuppence worth!

[Joe.]

The good thing about the sports journalism course at Brighton is that it's firstly NCTJ accredited, meaning I could get the qualifications through university, and secondly the course covers general journalism anyway to an extent:

Five centres offer an additional option in Sport Journalism, accredited by the NCTJ. This must be taken alongside the full preliminary reporters’ qualification, including shorthand

So the course would provide me with the prelimary NCTJ certificate, which is ultimately what potential employees would look for.

[AoWW]

The good thing about the sports journalism course at Brighton is that it's firstly NCTJ accredited, meaning I could get the qualifications through university, and secondly the course covers general journalism anyway to an extent:

So the course would provide me with the prelimary NCTJ certificate, which is ultimately what potential employees would look for.

Indeed.

[MC Prussian]

How good is an HND course? I understand that on the ladder of degrees (with a doctor being the highest), the HND stands 5th - right next to the bachelor.

[Daggers]

How good is an HND course? I understand that on the ladder of degrees (with a doctor being the highest), the HND stands 5th - right next to the bachelor.

A Higher National Diploma is worth more than a Higher National Certificate but less than a Foundation or Ordinary degree. It can form the first two years of some Honours degree programs or be accepted as an entry qualification

[Granno]

Yay Freshers at Leicester starts tomorrow :beer: :beer:

[Fez of Mahrez]

Joe, I've got a ton of books from an aborted distance-learning journalism course that I'm looking to flog if you're interested. Might end up going on eBay as the course cost £450-ish late last year. Shorthand books, legal books, the works. Let me know if you want more info or want to make an offer for them. I would sell for an absolute fraction of that.

Also would be a good idea to start writing articles for Foxes Online. Any publication is good publication as long as you're prepared for it. If you can say you've had regular publication on a popular site, it'd come in handy for sports journalism applications down the line. I can speak from experience as it's something I never did and have regretted ever since. Just do it.

[Alexikokopops]

Joe, I've got a ton of books from an aborted distance-learning journalism course that I'm looking to flog if you're interested. Might end up going on eBay as the course cost £450-ish late last year. Shorthand books, legal books, the works. Let me know if you want more info or want to make an offer for them. I would sell for an absolute fraction of that.

Also would be a good idea to start writing articles for Foxes Online. Any publication is good publication as long as you're prepared for it. If you can say you've had regular publication on a popular site, it'd come in handy for sports journalism applications down the line. I can speak from experience as it's something I never did and have regretted ever since. Just do it.

Did you stop that just because you're lazy?

[Fez of Mahrez]

Did you stop that just because you're lazy?

Don't start you big emo.

[Guest]

Joe, I've got a ton of books from an aborted distance-learning journalism course that I'm looking to flog if you're interested. Might end up going on eBay as the course cost £450-ish late last year. Shorthand books, legal books, the works. Let me know if you want more info or want to make an offer for them. I would sell for an absolute fraction of that.

What are the shorthand and legal books? I might be interested (thinking of a media oriented Immigration law project, and I want to learn shorthand as I think this would be useful for making notes in a court room).