Student journalists are being given the chance to hone their writing skills with footballing giant Manchester United.
Four final-year journalism students at Salford University are developing their sports writing skills alongside professionals at one of the biggest media operations in global football.
During their time at Old Trafford, students will assist Manchester United’s journalists and social media editors with a variety of roles on matchdays including managing the club’s live image feed service and writing news stories, short features, and player reaction reports on the back of each home fixture. The content created is published on Manchester United’s official website ManUtd.com.
The students are able to experience working inside a live press box and are also given the chance to interview some of the club’s first-team stars in the ‘mixed zone’ at the Theatre of Dreams.
James Tuck, Manchester United’s international websites editor, said: “The link-up has been a great success.
“The students are gaining valuable experience working at one of the world’s biggest sporting organisations and they are an asset to our editorial team on matchdays. So it has been mutually beneficial and we look forward to it continuing.”
Martin Hamer, who lecturers in journalism Salford University, added: “Imagine being a student with the chance to produce content for the official website of one of the biggest clubs in world football, knowing it will be read by millions of fans all over the globe.”
Third-year journalism undergraduate, Jordan Eyre, said: “Having the opportunity to be involved with a club like Manchester United is fantastic for me.
“The people at Manchester United have been extremely affable with us, as volunteers, and I am grateful for their guidance and expertise.”
The university’s partnership with United will develop further in the coming weeks, with a selection of postgraduate journalism students also working at the club, as part of the university’s MA community project. MA students will spend two days a week at Old Trafford sourcing and writing news stories, quotes-led articles and match previews for ManUtd.com.
