Praise for SportsByte at 2012 NUS Awards
Released: Thursday 5th July 2012 at 10:01
SportsByte, the University of Sunderland’s sports news website, was hailed as ‘remarkable‘ at the 2012 NUS Awards in Exeter.
SportsByte was shortlisted alongside Forge Media (Sheffield) and York Vision (University of York) in the category of ‘Best Student Media’ at the 2012 NUS Awards.
Forge Media won the award, but judges at the NUS Awards said of SportsByte: “The development and the growth of SportsByte in such a short space of time has been remarkable.
“Providing a voice and a platform for the many sports clubs, teams, athletes and members, the work being produced exclusively by students, it is a perfect example of a functional working model based on student participation.”
All content on the website, which was launched in October last year, is entirely produced by the students on the Sports Journalism course at the University of Sunderland.
Over 100 Sports Journalism students, across all three academic years, have contributed to the site since its launch – reporting on the huge variety of sports teams at all levels of sport across the City of Sunderland and the wider region.
Hamish Blackstock, a third year student at the University of Sunderland said: “SportsByte has been a fantastic platform, not just for me but for all the students.
“It’s been great to be able to put into practice the skills we have learned on the course – I have improved my interviewing technique and writing skills, because it’s been done in the real world.”
SportsByte Editor, David Peddie, said: “It would have been brilliant to win but I’m not too disheartened. Just to make it to the shortlist in our first year is a fantastic achievement and credit to everyone who contributed to the site.
“It’s been great to have this National recognition for all the student’s work and hopefully we can continue to develop and grow and come back next year and win.”
Dr John Price, Sports Journalism Programme Leader at the University of Sunderland said: ‘SportsByte has provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience the difficulties and delights of real world journalism.
‘They have got to experience the difficult interview, the tight deadlines, and the goal scored while they were looking the other way.
‘Overcoming such problems to deliver quality journalism has provided valuable experience for many.
‘The site has therefore been a great early success, provided a platform for previously neglected sports, and brought out the best in the best of our students.’
The NUS Awards highlight the achievements of students’ unions, students’ union staff and officers, as well as individual students from across the UK.
For more information on the NUS Awards visit www.nusconnect.org.uk.
For more information about SportsByte, and to read the award winning content, visit www.sportsbyte.org
