Jeff makes Sky Sports switch to University of Northampton journalism team

A journalist at the very top of his game has left Sky Sports to pass on his knowledge to budding sport hacks at the University of Northampton.

Jefferson Lake, who has been named as the University’s new Senior Lecturer in Multimedia Sports Journalism, brings with him a glittering CV spanning 18 years in the industry.

He’s covered two Olympic Games, a World Cup, a European Championship and Premier League football, international cricket and European rugby for the two biggest sports websites in the country, Sky Sports and BBC Sport. Jefferson’s industry break came in 2005, with Northampton paper the Chronicle & Echo, where he covered Northampton Town Football Club for nine seasons. His most recent role was a Sky Sports digital journalist, which saw him oversee and provide content for the broadcaster’s digital platforms. He also spent two years on a Sky Sports secondment to oversee the delivery of WWE wrestling content for the company’s digital, social and linear platforms. Jeff’s pictured above interviewing wrestler Ronda Rousey.

“A few people have asked me why I’m making the move from writing about sport to teaching others how to write about sport and the slightly cliched answer I give is that I feel like the veteran footballer who is starting to move into coaching,” said Jefferson.

“I’m still going to be working for Sky – and perhaps one or two other outlets – on a freelance basis, but in that role, I was increasingly feeling like I had this wealth of knowledge about journalism and the industry that I wasn’t putting to any use at all. Because I was one of the most senior members of the news team, my focus was on writing stories – there literally wasn’t any time to do anything else in terms of developing others.

“With the University, I’m hoping to be able to do that – to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of sports journalists and essentially teach them the skills they need to enter the business.

“As someone who enormously enjoyed the university experience, I also want to make sure the students at UON really get the most out of the three years they spend with us because, and here’s another massive cliché, it really is the best time of your life.”

Find out more about our Multimedia Sports Journalism course.