Collaboration with Super League champions

By UK Journalism

The department has collaborated with rugby Super League champions St Helens allowing students to get involved with the clubís PR set up.

The Rugby League club has invited six students to spend the next few months writing match reports, features and interviews for its website St Helens RLFC

After a selection process that involved answering a set of questions and then providing a match report for the Huddersfield Vs St Helens game, the students were chosen. Third year Sports Journalism students Andrew Dalton, Stewart Hudson and Chris Nicholls, Louise Fildes and James Wilson who are both 2nd year sports journalists and first year Journalism student James Gordon. James also runs and edits his own Rugby League website Last Tackle

Louise Fildes said: ìI am so excited at the thought of working at Saints. Itís such a big club and I have supported the team since I was little so it was a dream opportunity for me.î

James Gordon said he was surprised to be given the opportunity in the first year of his course. "I'm delighted and hopefully it'll help me gain an insight in to media life in the "outside" world and perhaps give me the experience to gain a similar full time job in the future."

Show off writing skills

Chris, who is the nephew of famous ex St Helens player George Nicholls, said: ìI'm looking forward to having the opportunity to show off my writing skills on a website that will be viewed by lots of people who will hopefully appreciate my efforts.î

The students will be working under Jon Brown, St Helens' head of media, who said: "The students have all impressed us with the standard of their work and their knowledge of rugby league. We know that by studying at UCLan they will have acquired good habits and a sound knowledge of journalism.î

Andrew Dalton says the opportunity will be a massive boost to his career prospects.

ìIt will be something that will go onto my CV. When I graduate I would love to be given the chance to commentate on either rugby league or football.î

Stewart Hudson said: ìI hope itís worthwhile in gaining a stepping-stone in the industry and helps to strengthen my contacts in the sporting world. It also places me in a deadline-working environment writing articles that are published on the web.î

Help in future

James Wilson agreed: ìWorking with the Super League champions brings a certain pedigree towards your name which can only help in the future. Iím looking forward to watching the Academy side the most. I like the fact that this season I can watch the future as well as the present, and it will be interesting to see which players may be breaking into the first team towards the back end of the season.î

Charlie Lambert, Course Leader for the Sport Journalism degree, said: "This link with St Helens gives our students a wonderful opportunity to work alongside a professional sports club, hone their reporting skills and make valuable contacts."

Having won the Superleague title and Challenge Cup last season and also the BBC Team of the Year award, St Helens is the undisputed top Rugby League club in the country. Later this month they play the top Australian side Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge and so the students could potentially be working for the world champions.

Jon Brown added: ìI am delighted to have them around and look forward to their contributions over the rest of the season."

More info
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
St Helens RLFC

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