The Culture of Sport and Sports Journalism in the UK

Instructor
James Pearce
Course Description
Four quarter credits.Britain is currently in the middle of what’s been called its ‘Decade of Sport’. After London’s successful hosting of the Olympics in 2012 and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, attention will turn to the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and then the World Athletics Championships in 2017.During this course we will analyze the perceived benefits of hosting major sporting events, and look into the culture of sport. Why does sport matter so much to so many people?We will delve into the practices of sports journalism, studying how the techniques used by sports journalists compare with those used by other news journalists.There will also be a very special focus on sports broadcasting. The course will finish with a broadcasting masterclass, with all students given the opportunity to record a TV broadcast with a professional cameraman. This course will appeal especially to those planning a career in Sports Journalism. Students will attend key sporting events which they will report on and analyze. They will also write leading articles on some of the themes highlighted during the course. They will have the opportunity to draw on their own experience of sport theory and practice in the United States.