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Become a Sports Reporter

The majority of the time sports reporters are out of the newsroom and in the field covering events of the day, interviewing newsmakers or working on long-form feature packages. When they aren’t out in the field crafting a story, sports reporters work weekend sportscaster shifts and fill-in on set when necessary.

The most common career path is to gain experience and skill as a sports reporter, then advance to the main sportscaster role. Most will start out as a reporter three days a week and then be on set over the weekend to gain experience in that role.

Sometimes, reporters love what they do and do not wish to ‘progress’ to sportscaster. Many highly skilled sports reporters, like Andrea Kremer, Jeremy Schaap and Rachel Nichols are rarely seen anywhere but in the field, reporting.

Being in the field has positives and negatives – it can be a grind, always chasing the next story. At the same time, you have the energy of being out of the newsroom and "in" the stories. Reporters have the thrill of ‘being there’.

Being a sports reporter is not as smiple as reading on camera, in most markets they are expected to:

• Write their own copy
• Shoot their own video (stand-ups, b-roll, live action)
• Edit their own stories (usually with Final Cut Pro editing software)
• Engage in social media through station accounts
• Perform other multimedia tasks (Blogging etc)

Getting started can be difficult; sports reporters often get their first on-air opportunity in a place they’ve barely heard of. Places like Ottumwa, Iowa (Designated Market Area #199) or Rapid City, South Dakota (Market #171) may become home for a while. Starting in small markets means sports reporters will often begin by covering Rodeos rather than Super Bowls.

When starting in a small market, a sports reporter should focus on their craft by improving their writing, delivery and confidence through repetition. Finding a mentor is imperitve. Sports reporters should seek out an industry veteran to watch their work and provide critiques.

A Sports Reporter Job may be for you if:

You enjoy a fast paced, rapidly changing work environment. As a sports reporter you never have the same day twice and you are always talking to new, interesting people. Developing great stories is your passion. Reporters have the time to go deeper into a story and bring a theme to the forefront.

If your ultimate goal is to be a Sportscaster, you will most likely begin your career as a sports reporter. The downside is you may get started covering the rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho. Yee Haw?

Minimum Requirements: Sports Reporter

• Associate degree in Broadcasting, Journalism or Television Production
• Relevant work experience, including internships or at college television stations
• A Demo tape to show stations your experience and potential
• Writing experience
• Experience shooting video
• Non-linear editing experience (Fina Cut Pro, Avid, Quantel)
• Social Media expertise (Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, G+)

Learn more about a career as a Sports Reporter:

Watch our ‘One Minute Drill’ videos for more Sports Broadcasting career advice

Additonal Sports Reporter Resources:

• Industry Insiders Share Their Tips on Making a TV Demo Reel
• Video: Secrets to Landing a Job On-Camera
• Q&A; with MLB Network Host and Sports Reporter Matt Yallof

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