Student internships in sports broadcasting must be more diverse By Heather McLean, Editor
Monday, March 11, 2019 - 16:27
Print This Story
Sports broadcasters need to increase the diversity of students taken on for internships, according to a lecturer at the University of Lincoln.
Students from the University of Lincoln have built up considerable experience in sports broadcasting by the time they are looking for internships, said John Cafferkey, senior lecturer and programme leader in the School of English and Journalism at the University of Lincoln which is based in Brayford Pool.
However, he believes that more can be done to help students from diverse backgrounds access internships.
University of Lincoln students hard at work [copyright University of Lincoln]
My main issue with internships in the broadcast industry is one of diversity, said Cafferkey.
We know it is an industry that lacks diversity; there are not enough women, low representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) broadcasters and reporters and fewer opportunities for students from poorer backgrounds. Many internships involve students travelling to London or Manchester for an extended period, with no financial support to help students pay for travel, accommodation or food whilst they are on their placement.
For many students, who have to work while they are at university to support themselves, a week, two weeks or more on an internship is just not financially feasible. However, the University of Lincoln has helped students financially in the past and I would be happy to work with any broadcaster to ensure that our students had the best opportunity of a career in the industry, Cafferkey added.
Cafferkey commented that while the area of sports broadcast can be hard to get into, the University of Lincoln has made great inroads into developing relationships with broadcasters: Sports broadcasting is a very competitive industry to break into but, as a school, we pride ourselves in having industry experience, great contacts in the industry and of course our alumni who are working in the industry.
[copyright University of Lincoln]
I have personally spent time with Sky Sports News and BBC Sport in order to forge working relationships and to gain industry recognition for Sports Journalism at Lincoln. Those efforts are reaping benefits with graduates from Lincoln working at Sky Sports, BBC Sport and ITV Sport, he noted.
Journalism and Sports Journalism at Lincoln are built on three pillars of production, Cafferkey noted: writing, audio and video. He added: All of our students are required to produce work using audio and video production, as well as building their presenting skills. Students in our newsrooms take part in news days where they produce their own news and sport content, delivered on an outward facing web platform.
Sports Journalism students also work closely with Lincoln City Football Club and BBC Radio Lincolnshire to produce sports content and take part in live programmes, said Cafferkey. In terms of the skills they possess, our students are proficient in video and audio editing, writing sports copy and scripts, conducting interviews with sports people and presenting their own sports content on the school website.
While some in sports broadcast have said that university students lack real hands-on experience when they leave their courses, Cafferkey said: I disagree with that statement entirely. Students doing sports journalism at Lincoln are producing work every week, be it during work experience or at several football clubs including Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United and Huddersfield Town. Students are also producing practical work for their own platforms at the university and for their coursework. In fact, just last week, a student from the School of English and Journalism at Lincoln won the RTS Midlands Award for his documentary on women in horseracing, whilst another student was shortlisted in the same category for a film on artificial pitches.
Audio production student at the University of Lincoln practices his skills [copyright University of Lincoln]
The University of Lincoln is keen to engage and work with industry partners in the world of broadcasting, media, film, journalism, design and production. Students are based in the university's Media, Film and Broadcast Centre, a specialist production environment with two multi-camera television studios, three radio studios, audio editing suites, a writers' room and a green screen room. Elsewhere, there are four video editing suites with a range of editing software including, Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere. The Parlour Suite offers students the opportunity to learn how to use post-production software including Autodesk Flame and DaVinci Resolve. It provides facilities for colour correction, creative compositing and image repair in an inviting and creative space.
Many academic staff in the University of Lincoln School of Film and Media are current media practitioners who are engaged with professional bodies, such as the Royal Television Society, the British Society of Cinematographers and the British Association of Film, Television and Screen Studies, ensuring that course content is informed by the latest industry developments. BAFTA-winning television dramatist Neil McKay and documentary-maker Nick Gray are visiting professors in the School.
The University of Lincoln also houses the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) the specialist and regional public film archive for the East and West Midlands, caring for a historically significant collection of over 70,000 moving image records of the region.
If you would like to engage with students, offer internships or develop an internship programme, or create any other opportunity for student participation, the University of Lincoln would like to hear from you.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
Student internships in sports broadcasting must be more diverse By Heather McLean, Editor 
