As a teenager, Rob, from Wakefield, would train at the University’s football facilities while training with the Ultimate Football Coaching Academy — the largest football academy in Leeds. Rob would often look at the Main Campus in Horsforth and picture himself as a student and, as a sports fanatic who received positive reviews about the Sports Journalism course from his brother’s friends, decided Leeds Trinity was the place for him.

Rob set out to gain experience in the industry and shadowed a sports reporter at the Chronicle in Newcastle – even writing a match report that was published. He then became a regular in press boxes at football, rugby and cricket matches as he learnt his craft before starting his studies at Leeds Trinity in September 2021.

Rob continued to challenge himself both personally and professionally while at University. Alongside completing a half-marathon, two full marathons and a 92-mile walk to raise money for a men’s mental health charity, he also embraced numerous placement opportunities. Rob spent time in the media departments at Super League clubs Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity — the team he supports — and briefly became a teacher as he showed students involved with the Born in Bradford research project how to create podcasts using the knowledge developed on his radio and podcast modules.

The strong practical skills Rob developed were reflected in his University assignments and at the end of his three years at Leeds Trinity, he achieved a first-class degree.

After graduating, Rob will continue to put his newly honed talents in areas such as videography, creating social media content and effectively working as part of a team to use when he starts his new job in the Media and Communication team at West Yorkshire Police.

Rob said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leeds Trinity University, I’ve learnt and achieved so much. The tutors and staff have a wealth of industry experience, have always made time to support me when needed and have helped prepare me to go on and reach my full potential. Studying at Leeds Trinity was everything I had hoped it would be and I feel fortunate to have done it alongside a great group of upcoming sports journalists, many of whom I now consider my closest friends. I’m so proud of the result I have achieved.

“I think the biggest skill I’ve learnt is adaptability, which will serve me well not only in journalism, but in other roles within the industry such as the one I’ll soon take up at West Yorkshire Police. I can’t wait to get started.”

Paul Marsden, Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching in Journalism at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Rob has really pushed himself, particularly in the last year of his degree, to find truly engaging and innovative ways to tell stories. For example, Rob took responsibility for his group’s TV production that covered sports in West Yorkshire by editing all the packages for the programme himself. His determination was crucial in ensuring his group’s success. He has been a pleasure to teach and I’m sure he will go on to enjoy a great career, especially given he has already found a professional-level job before officially graduating.”

The Centre for Journalism at Leeds Trinity University is ranked 2nd in the UK for Journalism courses according to the Guardian University Guide 2024, with 100% of the University’s Journalism graduates in high-skilled employment or further study 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes, HESA, 2023).

For more information on the Journalism courses at Leeds Trinity, and other courses available in Clearing, visit the University website.