Sports Media

The Sports Media program allows students to capitalize on two of the greatest strengths of Franklin Pierce University—our sports programs and the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication. Students will gain experience in all facets of sports communication, from play-calling to marketing, as they prepare themselves for entry-level positions as sports journalists, commentators, PR practitioners, or on-air broadcasters.

Majors, Minors and Certificates

Courses

SPME101: Foundations of Sports Media

Credits 3
This course covers the relationships between sports industries, athletes, media, and audiences. After a brief study of the earliest “coverage” of sports during the ancient Olympic games, we will look at the evolution of sports communication from early sports writers, through early sports broadcast announcers, to the current age, where athletes create their own sports media via Twitter and other social media.

SPME215: Sports Reporting

Credits 3
This hands-on course teaches high standards, ethical behavior and professional conduct in fact gathering, interviewing and writing about sports. Students will practice jargon-free, unbiased reporting as they cover campus sports, at times using new forms of digital coverage. Prerequisite: COMM110

SPME250: Sports Media Production

Credits 3

This course will give students hands-on experience producing various short form sports programs, such as feature stories, highlights, and news packages. Students will also produce a weekly sports news program focusing on coverage of university sports games and events. Prerequisites: SPME101, COMM120. Offered: Fall, Spring.

SPME255: Internship in Sports Media

Credits 1 6

Internship in Sports Media (1-6 credits). These field-based experiences allow students to work with media specialists in a professional setting to enhance their employment potential upon graduation. An agreement is drawn up and approved by the student, the on-site supervisor, the Sports Media faculty intern- ship advisor, and the Dean or their designee. Students should consult with the faculty internship advisor on the academic requirements before starting the internship. The course grade is assigned by the Mass Communication faculty intern- ship advisor in consultation with the on-site supervisor. Credits are based upon the work hours completed (minimum of 40 hours per credit); a maximum of 6 credits may be earned per term. A student may take up to 15 credits towards graduation credit. Prerequisite: COMM120.

SPME260: Special Topics in Sports Media

Credits 3

This course focuses on in-depth exploration of either a timely or historical topic related to the intersection of sports and media. Students may repeat the course, once, for additional credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite for SPME260: SPME101.

SPME300: International Sports Culture

Credits 3

In less than a hundred years sports have become an essential part of world culture. Sports events are our passions and sports athletes are our heroes. Sports have become a source of national identities and have often been a focal point for international geopolitics. In this course, we first develop an understanding of sports that are popular abroad, but not well understood at home (e.g., cricket, football, hurling). Then we will explore the ways that sports are understood and appreciated in other nations. We will also explore situations in recent history when sports events became important in geopolitical tensions (e.g., 1936 Berlin Olympics, 1974 heavyweight boxing title fight in Zaire, 2008 Beijing Olympics). The course includes an optional study abroad component at the end of the semester, when we will travel internationally to both view live sporting events and study the media coverage of sports in the places we visit. Prerequisite: SPME101: Foundations of Sports Media. Offered every spring semester.

SPME351: Sports Broadcasting

Credits 3
Students will be exposed to the theories and practices of reporting sports for both radio and television. Provides an historical perspective of the field, and emphasizes the development of skills and techniques to develop and deliver a sports broadcast. Prerequisites: COMM120.

SPME355: Internship in Sports Media

Credits 1 6

Internship in Sports Media (1-6 credits). These field-based experiences allow students to work with media specialists in a professional setting to enhance their employment potential upon graduation. An agreement is drawn up and approved by the student, the on-site supervisor, the Sports Media faculty intern- ship advisor, and the Dean or their designee. Students should consult with the faculty internship advisor on the academic requirements before starting the internship. The course grade is assigned by the Mass Communication faculty intern- ship advisor in consultation with the on-site supervisor. Credits are based upon the work hours completed (minimum of 40 hours per credit); a maximum of 6 credits may be earned per term. A student may take up to 15 credits towards graduation credit. Prerequisite: COMM120.

SPME360: Special Topics in Sports Media

Credits 3

This course focuses on in-depth exploration of either a timely or historical topic related to the intersection of sports and media. Students may repeat the course, once, for additional credit if the topic is different. Prerequisite for SPME360: SPME260 and different topic.

SPME400: Capstone in Sports Media

Credits 3
The capstone is an issues-based topics course. We will study a contemporary situation in sports media (e.g., Title IX, domestic abuse by athletes, substance abuse, etc.) to understand the ways in which media coverage of the subject has been more or less effective, how that coverage has influenced public opinion, and how sports media professionals might handle the topic more effectively. The course, therefore, will also involve ethical considerations, so we will explore the subject of communication ethics. Prereqs: SPME Major & Senior Standing.

SPME455: Internship in Sports Media

Credits 1 6

Internship in Sports Media (1-6 credits). These field-based experiences allow students to work with media specialists in a professional setting to enhance their employment potential upon graduation. An agreement is drawn up and approved by the student, the on-site supervisor, the Sports Media faculty intern- ship advisor, and the Dean or their designee. Students should consult with the faculty internship advisor on the academic requirements before starting the internship. The course grade is assigned by the Mass Communication faculty intern- ship advisor in consultation with the on-site supervisor. Credits are based upon the work hours completed (minimum of 40 hours per credit); a maximum of 6 credits may be earned per term. A student may take up to 15 credits towards graduation credit. Prerequisite: COMM120.