Sports Journalism students to shine at London 2012 Games

“I’m delighted our gold standard reputation gives employers confidence that they will be hiring top quality performers with multi-media skills ready to deliver on the world stage.”

Mitch Pryce Staffordshire University’s Sports Journalism award leader

With just weeks until the London 2012 Games sparks into action Staffordshire University is already claiming gold as sports journalism students scoop Olympic roles.

Students, graduates and lecturers from Staffordshire University are all set to play their part in the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Michael Redford, a second year BA(Hons) Sports Journalism student, was awarded a three month placement with BBC Radio WM to cover the Olympics from a West Midlands perspective.

Michael, 19, from Nottingham, will begin reporting on the Olympics in July, he said: “To be given the opportunity to highlight the best athletes potentially leading the West Midlands to gold is a fantastic opportunity and something I am very proud to be a part of.

“Working with the BBC will be a great benefit to me moving forward in my career in journalism and will provide me with a platform to gain strong contacts in the industry.”

Third year Sports Journalist, Matt Dodd, has provided written background information for Infostrada's Bio Research Project which will appear in the official Olympics programmes, with MA Sports Journalism student Paul Jenkins will be based in the Olympic Media Centre in London.

For first year Journalism student Ross Gregory, 18, from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, the Olympics will see him put down the reporting pad to take up his new position as a volunteer  lifeguard at the newly build Aquatics Centre.

“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet, I went to a test event at the Aquatics centre in London where 7,500 people were in attendance and it created an amazing atmosphere.

“During  Olympic and Paralympics competitions 17,000 will be there people, and knowing that there will be something in the region of 4 billion people across world watching, I feel privileged to be a part of it.”

Hundreds of Staffordshire University alumni are now employed at sports news outlets in the UK and internationally with alumni working for ITN Sports News, ITV Sports, BBC and ESPN.

MA Sports Broadcast Journalism graduate, Pamela Rocca, who produced ESPN’s review of the cycling from the Beijing Olympics in 2008, will also showcase the best of London 2012.

Staffordshire University’s Sports Journalism award leader, Mitch Pryce, who covering the men's and women's football matches at Coventry City’s Ricoh Stadium, said:

“The success of the sports journalism courses continues to be reflected in the quality of students we attract.

“I’m delighted our gold standard reputation gives employers confidence that they will be hiring top quality performers with multi-media skills ready to deliver on the world stage.”