Blog 1

The Hockey World Cup Qualifiers has certainly put me outside of my comfort zone. During my time at the placement, I have been required to post regular social media updates on games, carry out post-match interviews and even produce match reports, all despite not being familiar with the rules of field hockey in general. Quick research was carried out before the placement started in an attempt to gain a small grasp on what happens during these games, however I would be lying if I said that I was confident heading into my first day, as I still only had a small idea on what to expect. This placement has proved to me that the old cliché of “learning on the job” certainly applies within the world of sports journalism. First hand experience of how a match is carried out, whilst surrounded by other professionals who are already knowledgeable of the sport, has boosted my own knowledge of said sport in a way which would not have happened by just watching the games unfold on a screen. As an avid football and darts fan, I have not necessarily jumped at the chance to cover other sports before starting the placement, however the experiences I have picked up have certainly opened my eyes to the fact that there is a whole world of sports out there which I may genuinely enjoy as much, if not more than the sports I have become used to over the years. This could have an impact on my future as a sports journalism student, as I may no longer be hesitant in covering a sport I am unfamiliar with when given the opportunity. I am grateful that I agreed to participate in this placement, as it is highly likely I would be as willing to broaden my horizons as I am now, and that I would have stuck to the same popular sports had I not participated.