Tickaroo, a news and sports media software leader, has revealed a new partnership with the University of Sheffield to integrate liveblogging into its Journalism Studies BA.
The collaboration will see live reporting form part of the university’s new sports journalism module, equipping students with the skills needed for digital-first sports reporting and enhancing the learning experience.
The new module is designed to teach students how to deliver real-time sports coverage across multiple platforms. It covers essential aspects of modern sports journalism, including data-driven reporting, audience engagement, and mobile journalism. A key module assessment requires students to create a live blog, and after considering several options, the university selected Tickaroo as the ideal tool.
The university’s decision to use Tickaroo also reflects broader trends in journalism education. With newsrooms increasingly prioritising live reporting and digital storytelling, the partnership ensures students graduate with industry-relevant skills.
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“Liveblogging is a crucial skill for modern journalists in today’s fast-paced media landscape. We were very keen to integrate it into our curriculum to teach our students to report quickly and accurately under pressure while creating engaging, interactive content,” explained Emma Oliver, lecturer at the University of Sheffield’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication.
“Tickaroo’s tools and features have really allowed our students to express creativity within their work. The platform is so versatile and easy to use, allowing them to replicate real-time updates but also to think about how to engage an audience through the use of various forms of multimedia. It has provided an invaluable learning experience,” she continued. “As well as using Tickaroo for our new sports module live reporting assessment, we have also incorporated it into our second year and MA digital newsdays.”
Tickaroo’s platform offers a range of features that enhance live sports reporting. Students can integrate videos, images, GIFs, and social media embeds while also using tools like ‘pinning’ key updates, ‘highlighting’ moments, collaborating in real-time and tracking audience engagement. Tickaroo also offers a range of sports templates to streamline workflows and keep audiences up to date. These features provide a dynamic way to report on sports events as they happen, preparing students for real-world journalism.
“Young journalists bring fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling approaches to newsrooms, making them an essential part of the industry. It’s crucial that they receive the right training and support to progress in their careers. The integration of Tickaroo into the University of Sheffield’s journalism course marks an important step in modernising media education,” added Tickaroo CEO and co-founder Naomi Owusu.
“As liveblogging continues to grow in importance, our partnership ensures that students are well-equipped to thrive in the evolving media landscape and drive the industry forward. We can’t wait to see the results.”
The collaboration follows Tickaroo’s ongoing efforts to support journalists, including sponsorship of the University of Central Lancashire’s Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme, and an initiative with the University of Northampton which enabled students to use the platform for election coverage to gain hands-on experience in real-time journalism.
Tickaroo has also partnered with the Newsrewired event for a number of years to provide young journalists with free academic accounts and mentorship programs, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the next generation of journalist talent.
