Simon McEnnis

Simon researches into sports journalism professionalism in the digital age and has had work published in leading journals including the International Journal of Sport Communication, Journalism, and Digital Journalism. His work has explored the nature of professional change in sports journalism in the social and digital media era. He is particularly interested in investigating the diffuse role orientations, principles and practices that now constitute sports journalists and sports journalism in the digital age and what this means for society.

 

In his research, Simon has explored various impacts on sports journalism, such as citien journalism, blogging and online journalism, which culminated in his 2021 book Disrupting Sports Journalism. Simon is continuing to explore the awkward and contested spaces in which sports journalism now exists with his latest journal article looking at the hybridity of influencer-sports journalism and what this means for our understandings of principles and practice.

Simon has been Associate Dean in Education and Student Experience for the School of Art and Media and a member of the School Executive Board (SEB) since January 2024.  He implements central policy and devises School strategy in learning, teaching and assessment, student engagement, quality assurance and employability. He chairs the School Education and Student Experience (SESEC) committee and represents the School on the University Education and Student Experience (UESEC) committee. 

 

He was previously the academic lead for the media subject area in the School of Art and Media at the University (2021-2024). This role involved overseeing the day-to-day operation and strategic development of journalism, media and film courses at the University.  He devised and developed MAs in Journalism and Sports Journalism.

 

Simon is chair of the sports journalism board for the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This role involves overssing the sports journalism qualoification in the NCTJ Diploma. He has led the learning and development of industry professionals at Sky Sports News, a 24-hour rolling news channel between 2011-2020. 

 

Simon has a professional background in sports journalism with both national and local newspapers. He was a sports journalist with The Sun for nine years (2000-2009) and was previously deputy sports editor of the Colchester Evening Gazette. He started his career as a news reporter with the Braintree and Witham Times in Essex and is a NCE/NQJ-qualified senior journalist.

 

He was awarded his PhD by Publication in 2021 with a thesis entitled "Sports Journalists and the Professional Crisis". He was awarded a distinction in Master's of Arts and Cultural Research (MRes) at the University of Brighton and an upper second class degree in BA Hons English Literature from the University of Sheffield.