Student journalist is on a fast track to success after securing award nomination and dream graduate job

It’s a hat-trick of success for journalist Sophie, who has achieved an award shortlisting, won three national Gold medals for snowboarding, and landed her dream graduate job – all before stepping over the stage at graduation.

Multimedia Sports Journalism student, Sophie Smith is in the running for the Best TV Sports Journalism award from the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) for her documentary, The Slope To Recovery, which she produced during her final year on the University of Northampton’s Multimedia Sports Journalism degree.

Sophie’s documentary – which can be viewed below – focuses on double above-knee (DAK) amputee snowboarders and their fight to introduce their own category at the Winter Paralympics.

Sophie also highlights the positive impact of sport in helping people to overcome life changing injuries and illnesses.

As a competitive snowboarder herself, Sophie explains: “I used to compete in the British Championships for snowboarding and, at the time, I competed alongside Swifty (Darren Swift) who was the world’s first double-amputee snowboarder.

“When I started my final-year documentary, I knew straight away I wanted to return to Swifty’s story, and I interviewed the world’s only six competitive double- or quadruple-limb amputee snowboarders – all of who come from the UK.

“It wasn’t easy to record the documentary – which took me across the country to interview snowboarders – as I carried multiple cameras, tripods, microphones and lighting, but I’m so pleased with the final result, and to see this recognised in the shortlisting by BJTC is even better.”

While studying to become a sports reporter, Sophie was supported by the University’s Energy Elite Athlete Scholarship programme, which provided a raft of dedicated support and training for students playing at county standard or above and want to enhance their sport.

Partly due to the support offered through the scholarship, Sophie successfully won Gold in the British Universities and Colleges Sport competition during every year of her study at the University of Northampton.

Ahead of her graduation ceremony which took place last Friday (14 November), Sophie had already ticked off day one in her dream graduate job as Content and Communications Executive with GB Snowsport, delivering the skiing and snowboarding social media coverage ahead of and during the 2026 Winter Olympics

“I couldn’t imagine a better job to step into after graduating from my degree,” Sophie explains.

“I’ve had so many opportunities to be involved with reporting large-scale sporting events, including reporting on the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the Men’s Tour of Britain, both of which took place in Northampton town. I can’t wait to use the knowledge and experience I’ve gained in this new role, and beyond.

“While competitive snowboarding might not be in my long-term future, I’m incredibly excited to stay in the game, working for GB Snowsport alongside hopefully making use of my professional qualification in international competitive judging at next year’s British Championships in France in April.”

Course Leader for Multimedia Sports Journalism, Adrian Warner said: “Sophie scripted, shot and edited all of this piece, which included some powerful journalism as well as excellent production techniques. It was all of a professional standard and deserves this recognition.”

Sophie will find out if her documentary has scored Gold at the BJTC awards ceremony on 20 November 2025 at Bauer Media, London.

Find out more about studying Multimedia Journalism and Multimedia Sports Journalism at the University of Northampton.