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MA Specialist Journalism at Cardiff Met kick-started my Sports Journalism career

MA Specialist Journalism graduate
MA Specialist Journalism graduate

Call it corny and cliche, but in my younger years, I felt lost. I remember being extremely jealous of my peers, who had major plans for their lives at the tender age of 16. I yearned for that type of preparation. I figured that it was unattainable to chase dreams and quickly came to the pragmatic conclusion that having a passion for something doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll succeed at it. But, god, was I wrong.

Attending Cardiff Metropolitan University taught me that following that feeling deep inside you is the very essence of belonging. If you harness your creativity, then you can make anything happen.

Enrolling on the MA Specialist Journalism course was a pivotal moment in my life that unleashed flair and talent that I didn’t even know I possessed. I’ve always had a penchant for writing but struggled to see myself making a career from it. That quickly went away when I stepped onto the Cyncoed Campus for the first time, if anything a wave of prosperity started to fill me. I instantly discovered this was an establishment where I could strengthen my craft through the mediums of learning and the endless opportunities provided to me.

I chose Specialist Journalism because I realised not every wordsmith was put on this earth to become a famous novelist. Deep down, I always knew journalism was my calling, I just needed to believe in myself more. To have belief was exactly what this university and its formidable lecturers taught me.

Course leader Robert Taffurelli and senior lecturer Dr Nina Jones are amongst the most supportive people I think I’ll ever meet. They are great writers and even greater humans. From the onset, their benevolence towards their students was lionized by us specialist journalists. I have so much gratitude for their teachings, and I always will.

This MA helped me stupendously as a journalist and gave me so much more confidence within my craft. As I chose to specialise in sports journalism, I was able to secure some great internships that shaped my understanding of the industry and bulked up my CV in the process.

, MA Specialist Journalism at Cardiff Met kick-started my Sports Journalism career, CARDIFF MET BLOG
I chose to specialise in Sports Journalism and secured some great internships that shaped my understanding of the industry. The MA has given me so much confidence in my craft.

My time with World Snooker was so beneficial as I was given duties such as interviewing players and attending press conferences. The ultimate plaudit for this experience was getting to interview some of the snooker greats including, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and John Higgins. It was an exhilarating experience that taught me the sheer importance of not being afraid to put yourself out there as a journalist and act with credence in the field.

My next experience came with the illustrious Sky Sports News, where I marvelled at the day-to-day buzz at Sky HQ. I educated myself on everything from programme scheduling to writing news pressers, and I even got the chance to have a chinwag with Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard.

During the first lockdown, I also got accepted onto a 3-month internship with Minute Media company, 90min. Which was purely creating features and trivial content which was fully focused on the best sport of them all – football.

And that brings me to the present day.

I’m currently writing with urban music channel Link Up TV, an opportunity I’m thankful for every day. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of rap’s greatest talents and get to represent British culture by producing a variety of content. Recently, I had a feature commissioned called ‘The Streets Will Always Remember…’ which is a nostalgic weekly feature that looks back on unforgettable moments from British culture and beyond.

, MA Specialist Journalism at Cardiff Met kick-started my Sports Journalism career, CARDIFF MET BLOG
My commissioned feature ‘The Streets Will Always Remember’ writing for the urban music channel Link Up TV.

All of these things wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for this course.

The MA Specialist Journalism course is a journey from start to finish, you’ll have good moments, you’ll have bad moments, and you’ll even have ugly moments. But, like me, hopefully, you have a life-defining moment. This may be a specialist course, but it has a master delivery.