Raheem Sterling Foundation and talkSPORT’s Youth Broadcast Academy returns for its second season

Monday 20th November 2023: talkSPORT is pleased to announce the return of Raheem Sterling’s Youth Broadcast Academy for a second season. The academy was created by the Raheem Sterling Foundation in conjunction with talkSPORT and News UK to give young people from Manchester and London the chance to learn skills and gain knowledge in radio production and broadcasting. The academy also shares an insight into the range of job opportunities available in sports media.  

A new cohort of young people from Manchester (Hideout Youth Zone) and London (Young Brent Foundation and Ark Elvin Academy) are ready to learn the ins and outs of sports media! The first session welcomed 19 pupils to News UK HQ. They heard from elite Sports Broadcaster Hugh Woozencroft and Former Premier League Footballer now Broadcaster Darren Bent.

Producers, presenters and online journalists from the world’s biggest sports radio station will deliver monthly sessions until Spring 2024. The sessions will cover all things broadcasting, including interview techniques and writing online sports features. 

The two groups will also have the chance to meet and interview sport stars during the workshops. The first season’s cohort interviewed the Foundation’s very own Raheem Sterling, alongside several famous faces including talkSPORT Drive host and ex-England striker Darren Bent, former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha and NFL Star Menelik Watson.

The students will then come together in Summer 2024 to celebrate their achievements in an awards ceremony hosted at the News UK building in London.

CEO Chris Bird, Raheem Sterling Foundation said: “We’re very excited to be bringing back the Raheem Sterling Broadcast Academy with talkSPORT and News UK. The first season’s young people worked very hard to build their skills and knowledge in broadcast media and we’re proud to be welcoming them back as ambassadors to guide our next group of students. They will have the chance to meet and interview a whole host of famous faces and gain some incredible experience in podcast recording and interview techniques with the industry’s finest - talkSPORT.’’

Sarah Collins, Executive Producer, talkSPORT said: "It is vital to our industry that we are looking for the best talent in all the places it exists. Unfortunately currently there are barriers to breaking into sports journalism for so many talented youngsters. This partnership with the Raheem Sterling Foundation has proven so successful at finding incredible talent across London and Manchester. We are delighted to partner again this year to deliver the Raheem Sterling Broadcast Academy."

All of the content recorded during the second season will be showcased on the talkSPORT website, which boasts a global viewership of 12 million people per month. Listen to the very first workshop from season one at Ark Elvin Academy here.