So you want to become a sports journalist? News Associates runs a multi-award-winning 35-week full-time NCTJ-
accredited Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism.
Our level 5 NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism course is delivered in association with Britain’s leading sports press agency Sportsbeat – perfect for anyone wanting to be a sports journalist!
Our sports journalism courses have achieved unprecedented gold-standard results over the years, topping the league tables. In 2020/21, our sports journalism in London was the best-performing NCTJ course overall, with a whopping 76% of trainees achieving their gold-standard NCTJ diploma.
Exam results are important but it’s our job record we’re most proud of – in 2018, 94% of our sports journalism trainees were in paid journalism roles within a month of graduating! Read more here.
You can find them on the back pages of our national newspapers, presenting and reporting on Sky Sports News, or working internationally for some of the most respected names in journalism from Reuters to Agence France Presse. They have also made their way to the media departments of Premier League football clubs and national governing bodies, from the British Olympic Association to the MCC.
The course has one intake a year (September) in London and Manchester. Click here to download the course brochure.
You’ll be in the office for four days a week and are required to spend a day a week on placement. Many trainees are offered full-time jobs with their placement after they graduate.
You study nine modules – see left or click here for course elements – with plenty of time for covering live sport and attending events.
See below for what our sports journalism trainees and alumni have been up to or check out our news section for the latest, such as international press trips, a tour around Sky Sports News, a visit to the Society of Editors conference and interviewing stars at the British Sports Awards organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association.
Any budding journalists out there looking for a place to study, I’d highly recommend this place. Hard work but fun too https://t.co/z7oVzgjD5A
— Daniella Matar (@DaniellaMatar) March 10, 2017
If @George_Osborne needs to pick up his NCTJ before taking on job as newspaper Editor, I highly recommend @NewsAssociates – if he has time.
— Tom Macleod (@SkyNewsTom) March 17, 2017
Apply for the @SkySportsNewsHQ graduate scheme – just like our very own Ed did 12 months ago & look at him now.https://t.co/qiingx4WAx pic.twitter.com/EFDT3lai6Y
— News Associates (@NewsAssociates) February 3, 2017
Half young sports writer shortlist for @SportSJA Awards studied their @NCTJ_news diploma with us
@TeddyCutler @willgkelleher @TomRoddy_ pic.twitter.com/P9EnayVnkm
— News Associates (@NewsAssociates) February 2, 2017
Great to see #TeamNA grad @riksharma_ with the back page splash on today’s @DailyMirror – we bet that took a lot of re-writing! #StartedHere pic.twitter.com/tvoQoOi6FU
— News Associates (@NewsAssociates) March 9, 2017
Another double-page spread from #TeamNA @willgkelleher goes behind the scenes with England ahead of the Six Nations finale. #StartedHere pic.twitter.com/xLagaQhMhG
— News Associates (@NewsAssociates) March 15, 2017
Wondering what it’s like to study sports journalism at News Associates? We love catching up with our trainees as they undertake their Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism, check out their blogs here.
Got a question about our journalism courses? Contact us on training@newsassociates.co.uk or 0203 026 3781.
For advice from former News Associates sports journalism trainees click here.
Sign up for a free sports journalism workshop here.
Apply for our NCTJ-accredited journalism courses here.