Football Journalism Bursary recipient Angelina Nayar on her experience with Sky Sports News and PA Media
As football captures national attention, it’s the journalists behind the scenes who bring those stories to life. Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) recipient and 2025 Football Journalism Bursary winner Angelina Nayar has spent the past year finding exactly how they do it, through placements at PA Media and Sky Sports News while training at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Angelina began her placement with PA Media, where she was introduced to the realities of match reporting and agency journalism. A pre-match press conference at Rangers Training Centre gave her valuable context ahead of the match, informing her reporting the following day.
“I saw this as a great opportunity to put my shorthand skills into practice, as I had never used them in a real-life setting before,” she said. “Hearing their thoughts beforehand gave me valuable insight into the game and helped me add more depth and context to my writing the following day.”
While at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Angelina was tasked with producing a match report to deadline from the press box, mirroring the pressures faced by working journalists.
She said: “It was an excellent opportunity to test my ability to work under pressure, as I had to stay focused throughout the game, accurately recording the times of key moments and goals.”
Reflecting on her time with PA Media, she said: “Even over such a short period, I learned a great deal, and the skills and knowledge I gained will be invaluable as I continue to develop my career in journalism.”
Her placement at Sky Sports News offered a different perspective, focusing on live broadcast and production. Based at Sky’s Osterley studios, she was mentored by senior news editor Andy Thompson and introduced to a range of roles across the newsroom.
“It was extremely interesting to learn about the wide range of intricate jobs that contribute to Sky Sports, especially as my previous experience had been in much smaller newsrooms,” she said.
Angelina said observing presenter Bela Shah live on air was a key highlight: “I watched news presenter Bela Shah deliver the evening programme, which involved reading cues for two hours straight, interviewing guests, and thinking on her feet throughout.
“I also listened to the in-ear instructions she received from the gallery, which helped me understand how the production process runs so seamlessly.”
She also spent time in the gallery, gaining insight into the coordination behind live output.
“It was one of the most chaotic yet energising environments I have ever witnessed, as breaking news came in live and the team had to quickly reorganise the running order.”
During the placement, she contributed to live coverage, producing blog updates for the Lionesses’ World Cup qualifier against Spain.
“It was very rewarding, as I was able to put everything I had learned throughout the week into practice and receive useful feedback on how to improve my structure and approach.”
The bursary, which offers work placements alongside financial support to a student with an interest in sports journalism, is supported by Sky Sports News and PA Media.
Mark Alford, director of Sky Sports News, said: “Football is sewn into the fabric of Britain. Better representation of all those millions of fans among those who report on it is a shared ambition — and we’re delighted to support Angelina with this award.”
Ashley Broadley, head of sport and production at PA Media, said: “At PA Media, we’re passionate about helping the industry become more diverse and inclusive. Supporting talented newcomers like Angelina is a great step toward a more authentic future for football journalism.”
When she was announced as the recipient at the NCTJ Inclusion in Journalism conference in November, Angelina said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to have been awarded the Football Journalism Bursary. This support will make such a difference as I take my first steps into the industry, and I’m passionate about using this experience to contribute positively to football journalism and to champion greater diversity within the field.”
To find out more about the Journalism Diversity Fund, including how to apply or become a partner, visit the NCTJ website.
