When signing up for UCFB’s BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism programme, Dan Wiseman was striving for a traditional, writing-based career. After delving into one of his course modules, however, his goals shifted in a way he never could have anticipated.

Now working at the heart of BBC Sport, the UCFB Etihad Campus graduate shares the highlights of his role and how his degree helped him get there…

Congratulations on your new role at the BBC! Tell us about what it involves and what you get up to on a daily basis.

Thanks! It’s been a lot of fun so far. My job role is to help optimise BBC Sport’s incredible web output for around-the-clock publication across a wide variety of social media platforms.

What have been some of the highlights so far?

There’s been something amazing happen every day, such is the nature of sports news. Be it covering breaking football transfers like Erling Haaland’s or Darwin Nunez’s, live-tweeting F1 races or covering the warm-up to Wimbledon, I’ve been able to dive into a lot of different sports early on. I do need to brush up on my cricket, though!

What have you taken into the role from your BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism degree?

It’s actually really interesting – and probably not what you’d expect. Having gone to UCFB wanting to become a traditional print journalist, multi-functional modules on the importance of social media (and how to use it) really captured my interest and that has where my career path has taken me. I didn’t expect to stray away from journalism to this extent, but it’s been a surprisingly natural transition.

Perhaps one day I can return to writing long-form articles and the like, but for now I’m more than happy where I am.

During your degree, you had numerous internships in Media Operations, including Basketball England and Beyond 90. How important do you think these were in securing your current role?

It can be difficult when you’re applying for (and then stepping into) a new role, especially when you’re younger than everybody else there and fresh out of university. I’ve found that in many situations in my short career, I’ve been surrounded by people much older than me. It can be a little daunting.

But having those opportunities really helps with confidence, especially when I was lucky enough to work such in amazing places. Your experience is always the first thing you get asked about in any interview, so being proactive and grabbing whatever comes your way will help you so much in the future.

Tell us about your time in the US as Head of Media Operations at AHFC Royals. How did you find working for a USL franchise and how did this compare to your experience of working in football and sport in the UK?

It was the best summer of my life. The club and my host family were so welcoming and friendly, a complete joy to be around. I was handed a real responsibility at AHFC, and they gave me full creative control from day one. I felt valued and entrusted straight away. We actually won some end-of-season awards for our social output too, so that was amazing.

In terms of the football, the USL is such an incredible division. It’s an amazing platform full of clubs and players who are just desperate to convey their love of the game. It’s a very different environment and atmosphere to English football, but I fell in love with it instantly – living in Houston for three months helped with that, too! I’d love to go back one day.

How did you find being a student in Manchester?

Manchester is the best English city to be a student in, without a doubt. The incredible music scene, a unique city culture, an abundance of sports teams and several other universities in the area make it a perfect place to study. There’s always something going on. You’re also not too far away from other cities like Liverpool, Leeds, and Sheffield, so they’re great to head over to as well.

Why do you love football?

It’s difficult to summarise, but it’s been my main passion for as long as I can remember. I love the escapism, the emotion, the drama, and the far-reaching culture surrounding the sport. I love seeing it interpreted in different ways in different countries.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to study at UCFB?

Gaining employment within this industry is so often about experience. Due to how fast-paced the world of sport is, clubs and organisations are always on the lookout for someone who knows the ropes and can step into the role as seamlessly as possible. I’ve been able to make those transitions in my own career thanks to the opportunities I received at UCFB. I’m so glad that I volunteered for anything that came my way. Not only does it look great on your CV, but it’ll help you endlessly when you get that big break.

It's a cliché to say that university is what you make of it, but it’s true.