Masters Project – MA in Journalism & Media Studies
I used one edition of the Rhodes Internal Premier League (RIPL) as the basis for my Master’s practice project—designing a strategic communications intervention to test whether professional‑grade digital media could elevate a local university cricket tournament’s visibility, engagement, and attendance. The project combined campaign strategy, branding assets, a multimedia website hub, social content, and integrated live/written coverage to create a polished, professional experience around campus cricket.
The intervention centred on a dedicated tournament site (RIPLT20.com), coordinated content drops, and a live‑broadcast package on YouTube featuring commentary, on‑screen graphics, replays, and a proper scoreboard—positioning a local competition with the look and feel of a professional T20 product. The streams attracted viewers in 14 countries and exceeded 2,600 total views during the competition, demonstrating how access and production values can unlock micro‑fandom in a university setting.
- MA practice project (Journalism & Media Studies)
- Strategic comms for campus T20
- RIPLT20.com media hub
- Brand, graphics, social & web rollout
- YouTube broadcasts
- Audience in 14 countries
- 2,600+ total stream views
- Pro presentation for campus cricket
Category
Sports Administration
Role
Tournament Director & Marketer
Location
Makhanda, South Africa
Year of Tournament
2019
Sports Administration & Consulting Services
Sports administration (tools & frameworks I provide):
- Event systems & info architecture: Fixtures, stats, player profiles, match‑day comms, and stakeholder workflows modeled on professional events.
- Governance‑aligned communications: Consent processes, data handling for sign‑ups, moderation and player‑welfare guidelines embedded in the comms plan.
- Lean operations playbooks: Templates for captain/player coordination (e.g., WhatsApp distribution), content pipelines, and small‑team execution.
Sports media (systems that drive reach & engagement):
- Broadcast‑lite specification: Commentary flow, replay cadence, score graphics, and on‑screen packages integrated with a central tournament hub.
- Audience development mechanics: Content cadence + player‑amplified distribution routed to a single hub—validated by streams spanning 14 countries and 2,600+ views.
- Micro‑fandom methodology: Branding, storytelling, and access patterns that make local competitions feel like pro properties and retain communities beyond match day.
