Journalism Today: Some Essential Facts About the Industry
- There are approximately 70,000-75,000 journalists currently working in the UK.
- By the 2012, the industry forecasts that there will be a net increase of approximately 5,000 journalists. This is despite the current economic downtown.
- The profession is very highly qualified with 98% of journalists having an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification (58% of journalists hold a qualification in journalism).
- The average salary of a journalist is currently £25,200 per annum.
- Journalism is one of the few professions in the UK to have an equal split between men and women. Sports journalism is still however male dominated, but this is beginning to change.
Sports journalism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the media today. British newspapers have significantly expanded their sports pages in the last decade and it is now common to find sports related stories in their news and business sections.
The UK sports and leisure magazine market is particularly buoyant with hundreds of titles catering for virtually every sport played throughout the world. There has also been a virtual revolution in sports broadcasting in the last decade. We have three national radio stations devoted to sport: BBC Radio 5Live, 5Live Extra, and Talksport.
Viewers now have an astonishing choice on terrestrial, digital and satellite with entire channels devoted to sport. The growth of the Internet has spawned millions of sports related websites; operated by media organisations, sporting clubs and associations as well as fans.
All these developments have provided new job and career opportunities for sports journalists. Journalism in general has become an increasingly popular career destination for young graduates and many related industries and professions are experiencing significant growth (e.g. public relations, sports administration, gambling, sports advertising, corporate sponsorship, events management and sports charities).
On completing this intensive course, you will be well placed to secure your first job as a journalist. Through us, you will have already completed work experience in the industry and established your own contacts in the profession.
