My third year of university has officially started. Although, having said that, I never feel like I’m not a student. Still, it’s somewhat nice to have some fresh short term goals to head towards in the coming weeks.
The most exciting of these is a new unit for this year: Sports Journalism. Back when I was in Sixth Form, I nearly chose a journo course dealing with sport and sport only at Brighton University, but I changed my mind. Or rather, they changed it for me — I wouldn’t get enough UCAS points.
It was clearly a blessing in disguise, however, as now I don’t really want to only be a specialist in sports journalism. But, I’m excited at the prospect of learning about it — it is clearly a very different cookie to what I’m used to.
I’ve applied for a press pass at my beloved Cambridge United. I realise it’s not good practice to just cover teams and sports that you follow, but I’m looking to ease myself in to the role of football writer at a place I’m familiar with. I know a few friendly faces around those parts too. It could be a quite surreal experience interviewing players (possibly) that I’d last spoken too just after they’d nutmegged me on the school field. I never was any good.
So, hopefully, in a couple of short weeks I’ll be sat amongst the hacks (hack?) in the Cambridge United press box. Usually, I’d be stood in a glorious exhibit of architecture known as the Newmarket Road End (pictured) . Might be able to listen in to a bit of BBC Radio Cambs commentary as well — I’m sure they all sit together up there. It’ll be the second football press box I’ve been in during my short career. The first was at Barcelona’s Nou Camp… although sadly it wasn’t for any journalistic purpose.
In the mean time, here’s something to read:
[PAUL BRADSHAW] How to be a journalism student
You wouldn’t think you’d need tips, would you? Well you do. Here, Paul Bradshaw writes ten tips for being a proper journalism student. Number six is the most useful when you start out, I think.
How is the Cambridge United press work going? As a 3rd year journalist myself i ventered into the press box of Exeter City (my team) then a variety of clubs since. Felt like my first day at school, except a school where i am at least 10 years younger than everyone else! Great site by the way, added to my blogroll!