Alyson Iuchs ⋅ Edwards, CA Photogenic, Inc ⋅ 5 years experience

Becoming a sports journalist takes time and dedication to the industry. While you don’t necessarily need to have a degree, journalism specific classes can teach you valuable information as well as help you make connections in the industry. You need to be knowledgeable about writing and grammar as well as have experience writing professionally, even if it’s only a blog. If you want to break into sports journalism, it is important to be passionate about sports and be an expert when it comes to the rules and regulations. While the industry is growing, it is also highly competitive, so you must work hard in order to succeed.

One of the first things you will want to do is decide what area of the sports media you want to work in. You can be a broadcaster in radio and television, work behind the scenes at tv stations or write articles for newspapers, magazines or online news outlets. As you discover the area you want to work in, you need to gather clips of your work to send with your application and resumes. These clips will showcase your skills and expertise to editors.

Internships are an important part of gaining experience in the industry. While everyone would love to work for ESPN there are not enough positions, so don’t be afraid to apply for local and non-paid positions as well. If you want to be a play-by-play announcer, talk to a local college announcer and see if they need an intern or even if they have any tips or advice. While writing your own sports blog will help you hone your skills, it won’t necessarily impress an editor. You need to be able to show you can work with a team, conduct proper interviews and be able to find story leads on your own. The more experience you can gain the better chance you will have at finding your dream sports job.

Networking is also important step to break into the sports media industry. Often times it can be a great recommendation by a former colleague or professional connection that helps you obtain a position. By attending networking events and conferences, you can meet many professionals who have worked in the field for years and others just like yourself. You can also join a professional sports media organization to gain connections and job opportunities in the industry. Being able to listen to and learn from other professionals will give you added confidence in your journey.

Resources for this article:
Ohio University Master of Athletic Administration Online: http://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/cost-of-school-athletics-are-increasing/?g=infographics&t=all
Work In Sports: https://www.workinsports.com/internships/default.asp
National Sports Media Association: https://nationalsportsmedia.org/

todd moore ⋅ Terre Haute, IN U.S. Army, Specialist ⋅ 4 years served

Start a blog. If you are any good, then someone will give you a call.

Sarah Bates ⋅ Fallbrook, CA Palomar Community College ⋅ 25 years experience

Sports journalism is a career. Train for it, then apply as an intern at all the local media outlets you can find. Even writing for the sports websites is a career to consider. From your photo, it looks like you have a depth of knowledge about basketball. Use that as a toe in the door. Bottom line though, if you cannot write for sports media, you have to learn how. That way you can apply with both feet in the door! Community colleges offer Journalism courses and some schools have on-campus TV and/or radio stations where students train. If sports media is your passion, follow it. Don't give up!

Diane Riemer ⋅ Andover, MA Brandeis International School of Business ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi William
Many cities have Sports and Entertainment Career Fairs. Boston has one at Fenway. One was held at Madison Square Garden recently. They are typically in the Spring, which doesn't help you right now, but you may want to keep track of the dates for the future. Just google sports career fairs. Also while sitting on job boards is frustrating, they can be useful to understand who is hiring, the scope of the work and the required experience. Try:
www.sportscareerfinder.com/
www.jobsinsports.com/sports/jobs
www.teamworkonline.com/
https://www.workinsports.com
https://www.linkedin.com › Jobs › Sports Jobs
https://www.linkedin.com › Jobs › Sports Jobs

Diane

Mike Cottell ⋅ Glen Head, NY Michael T Cottell Consulting ⋅ 42 years experience

Hi William, consider reaching out directly to the following people asking them for an opportunity to speak over the phone for 15 minutes. You want to ask them for advice and any potential leads to get you connected to the right people. A short e mail, introducing yourself and asking for help with a phone call to ask for advice might help you.
1) ACP --visit the Community section at the bottom of the landing page your question first appeared here and click on " advisors" and then " arts and entertainment" . I quickly found 2 people at Fox Sports, 2 at ESPN , one at NBC and one listed as TV producer. These are people committed to the ACP mission of helping veterans, so I'm sure you can get some contacts going here.
2) Local Media Organizations. Do some research and take the same approach by contacting the sports and news networks in your area. Address it to an individual and use a subject header like " veteran seeking career advice" You live in a major media capital--give it a shot! It's a bit of a longshot, but you never know.
3) As an addendum to Estella's suggestion, reach out to the deans and professors in your community who have media and sports management programs. Perhaps one will generate a lead. Think major schools like NYU as well as community colleges.
Thank you for your service and good luck to you!
Best Regards, Mike

Estella Rummelein ⋅ Englewood, CO Baxter Healthcare ⋅ 26 years experience

Hi William,
Are there any broadcasting courses you could take online or locally to add to your experience right now?