SJA Sports Journalists' Association
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Other training courses

  • PMA

    Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism (offering a Sports Journalism Bursary)

    Entry requirements: Undergraduate degree, passion, determination, team player, decent grammatical English
    Web:www.becomeajournalist.co.uk
    Contact: Riva Elliott: riva@pma-group.com 020 7278 0606
    The shortest, fastest way to get a job in magazine journalism.

    The nine-week course, based in Camden Town, London, has been running twice a year for more than two decades. Ever since it started, it has won blue-chip approval from the Periodicals Training Council, governing body for magazine industry training.

    The course aims to get you that first job fast. That may not be on a sports magazine or website (though we’ll show you the backdoor route to do so). However, the first thing you need to learn is how to become the sort of journalist that every editor wants. Then you can specialise.

    We don’t encourage internships. If you get on our course, we want you to get a job, not more unpaid work experience. Typically, at least two of the group have a job before the course even finishes.

    We teach all the core skills, using working journalists, not teachers. Just look at the website to see the calibre of tutors, and what those who have taken the course say about it.

    We take on average just 12 people at a time. Only apply if you’re prepared to work your butt off.

    Other features:

    • Periodicals Training Council and National Union of Journalists approved
    • Ask about the SJA Sports Journalism Bursary now: £1,800 towards the cost of the nine-week fast track course.

    Links:

  • BBC Training & Development

    Various courses

    Entry requirements: see website
    Web: Click here
    Contact: 0870 122 0216 / training@bbc.co.uk

Brighton Journalist Works

  • Fast-Track NCTJ Multimedia Diploma in Journalism

    Entry Requirements: NCTJ Entry Test
    Web: www.journalistworks.co.uk
    Contact: Paula O’Shea – 01273 540350 / paula@journalistworks.co.uk

Harlow College

  • NCTJ Fast Track Diploma in Journalism: Newspapers

    Entry Requirements: First degree (any discipline) preferred. Consideration will be given to applicants with experience or employer sponsorship. English GCSE at grade B or above (or equivalent) is essential.
    Web: Click here
    Contact: Neil Silver – 01279 868 100 / admissions@harlow-college.ac.uk

Harlow College

  • BTEC Extended Diploma in Journalism

    Entry Requirements: 4 GCSEs at grade A*-C or Merit or Distinction in a relevant First Diploma subject.
    Web: Click here
    Contact: Lewis Heritage – 01279 868 100 / admissions@harlow-college.ac.uk

Journalism.co.uk

  • Various short courses in all aspects of the media

    Entry Requirements: see website
    Web: Click here
    Contact: 01273 384293 / ed@journalism.co.uk

London College

  • Edexcel BTEC Higher National Diploma in Creative Media Production (Journalism)

    Entry Requirements: A recognised Level Three qualification
    Web: Click here
    Contact: 020 7243 4000 / admissions@lcuck.ac.uk

Morris Journalism Academy

  • Professional Freelance Journalism Course (12 or 24 weeks)

    Entry Requirements: Open entry
    Web: Click here
    Contact: registrar@morrisjournalismacademy.com

No Sweat Journalism Training

  • Sports Reporting NCTJ Certificate

    Entry Requirements: Some journalistic ability, degree preferred
    Web: Click here
    Contact: Mark Silver – 020 7490 2006 / info@nosweatjt.co.uk

Press Association

  • Foundation Course in Multimedia Journalism (NCTJ accredited)

    Entry Requirements: Degree level, but we also consider A-Levels with work experience. We encourage work experience regardless of academic background
    Web: Click here
    Contact: 0191 201 6043 / training@pressassociation.com

Press Association

  • Press Association Training – High quality training in all areas of media, PR and journalism

    Entry Requirements: n/a
    Web: Click here
    Contact: 0191 201 6043 / training@pressassociation.com

    • Sportsbeat/News Associates

      Sportsbeat diploma in multimedia journalism (including NCTJ examinations)

      Entry requirements:  Entry test and interview with senior editor
      Web:  www.sportsbeat.co.uk/content/training
      Contact:
      Samantha Colebrooke: scolebrooke@sportsbeat.co.uk or call 0870 445 0155

    • Based in central Manchester (September 2012) – right in the heart of some of Britain’s biggest sport stories – Sportsbeat‘s trainee programme combines a highly practical approach with solid academic credentials, thanks to our ties with sister company News Associates, the UK’s biggest and best NCTJ journalism school.

      Sports journalism is changing – the proliferation of dedicated TV channels, websites, radio stations, niche publications and, of course, newspapers offers a world of opportunity and has changed the nature of the job.

      Gone are the days when you’d turn up, perhaps write one quick story for the first edition then revise it with a more considered take before heading off in the general direction of last orders.

      Now you might be providing a live blog, snaps for a website and updating a Twitter feed before you get around to writing your story for the following day’s edition.

      You might be juggling the demands of a website that craves immediate SEO friendly content with the requirements of a newspaper – which still wants the latest and freshest take on the story with a witty, punchy and original intro.

      However, despite these changes, the key skills remain – and that is a key element of the training we will offer you.

      The content for Sportsbeat’s Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism has been designed by our own editors, meaning you will be taught the skills that employers, not academics, think are relevant.

      In addition you will study and sit all your National Council for the Training of Journalists examinations, including the invaluable shorthand and media law, alongside our colleagues at News Associates, the UK’s number one ranked NCTJ journalism school.

      Sportsbeat’s Multimedia Diploma in Sport Journalism will involve you in a busy but rewarding academic year. You will learn more about the business in one year with us than in three years at university.

      This is not a course for the faint-hearted, so the emphasis is certainly on working hard. To become a successful sports reporter you require the skills any news reporter would have, but in a highly-specialised qualification.

      The multi-faceted Sports Journalism module will be supplemented by Shorthand, Reporting, Video Journalism, Media Law and Public Affairs – and you will also produce a Portfolio of work throughout the year.

      This will result in an NCTJ Diploma if exams and assessments are passed. In addition, there will be a Sportsbeat Diploma in which Sports Public Relations and Communications and Sports Production Journalism will be assessed internally.

      We want to make sure that every one of our trainees leaves not just with a great understanding of the world of sport – but also with a qualification next to his/her name so they can be competitive in the job market.

      The course will run four days a week, Tuesdays-Fridays. Hours will generally be 9:30-4:30 with a break for lunch, although we make sure the timetable is very flexible.

      Saturdays will also be busy at stages during the course as football and rugby matches will be reported on for Sportsbeat during the winter months.

  • Up to Speed Journalism

    • NCTJ Diploma in Journalism

      Entry Requirements: See website
      Web: Click here
      Contact: thill@uptospeedjournalism.com

The SJA works together with: British Olympic Association Sport Accord We Are England Sport England Sport and Recreation Alliance UK Sport