Sports Journalism graduate shares his story

Originally intending to study a different course at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris Stott discovered our BA (Hons) Sports Journalism degree at an open day. “After chatting with the lecturer, I was convinced that this was the course for me!” he says. “The facilities looked brilliant, and it was the first time I realised that this was a genuine career path.”

Whilst at UCLan, Chris kept himself busy beyond his studies. He said: “I worked as a volunteer with Leigh Centurions, producing content for their online subscription service. I also helped to launch my own media outlet called Matchday FM”. His extracurricular activities not only helped with his studies but also in building an impressive CV before he’d even graduated. “If you join the course, make the most of it,” is Chris’s advice. “Don’t just turn up and get the grades, go and get yourself some hands-on experience. That’s what will help you to make a career out of it. If the chances aren’t there, make them. Set up your own blog or radio station.”

This approach worked well for Chris. Just after graduating in 2017, he was accepted on to the BBC Kick-Off reporter placement scheme with BBC Radio Cumbria. “That’s where I got one of my big breaks,” he says. “I covered the Workington vs Newcastle rugby league game, providing live updates. Since then, I’ve been able to develop a career in which I’ve had regular gigs doing match day reporting and commentary. I’ve provided regular match commentary of non-league football for BBC Lancashire, and work as a match day commentator for Chorley FC. I also cover Women's Championship games for the FA Player Live streams.” The list goes on. He even commentated at Wembley on the 2019 FA Trophy Final.

Chris has now broadened his range to include television journalism where he's a Freelance Broadcast Journalist at That’s TV, working on news reporting, gathering and creating news stories for the news programme.

Chris is thankful for his time at UCLan and his placement opportunities at the BBC, which helped him to build the CV he needed to get his job at That’s TV, telling us, “I get to do something I love and get paid for it. That’s priceless for me.”