Journalism hacks warm up for Commonwealth Games with Varsity coverage

Journalism students scheduled to cover this summer’s Commonwealth Games had a test run when they reported on the University of Northampton’s Varsity victory.

Undergraduates on Northampton’s Multimedia Journalism and Multimedia Sports Journalism courses provided live coverage of their student peers’ annual sporting challenge with the University of Bedfordshire.

Amongst the reporters were 12 who are scheduled to report on the 2022 Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham, for the Games’ official news service.

Adrian Warner, Senior Lecturer in Multimedia Journalism, said: “After all the issues our students had to contend with during the pandemic, it was great to see them getting hands-on experience of a multi-sports event.

“It was a wonderful dress rehearsal for the 12 students who should be reporting daily at the Commonwealth Games.”

The students covered Northampton’s Varsity victory in a variety of ways, including reporters at all games and a live blog of all the action as it happened. Content was published on the website of Northampton’s community station NLive Radio.

The students also produced radio reports for an hour-long Varsity special show on NLive Radio, on Wednesday 23 March – listen back on the website.

Adrian added: “I’d like to thank NLive Radio and Station Manager, Martin Steers, for the excellent support on the day. It shows the importance of having a community radio station embedded in our journalism teaching, which is a bonus for the students’ development.”