HOW TO BECOME A SPORTS JOURNALIST

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HOW TO BECOME A SPORTS JOURNALIST

India is one of those countries where people are in insane love with sports. Earlier, the only sport worshipped in India was Cricket. However, these days, people are crazy about almost all sports. Some of the hot favourite sports in India apart from Cricket is Hockey, Kabaddi, Badminton, and Football. If you love any one or all of these sports, then you can convert your hobby into a profession. You can make a career in sports journalism.

What is Sports Journalism?

Sports journalism focus on writing and reporting sports news and events. Sports journalists add all media, together with print, tv broadcasting and also the web. If you are the biggest sports fan and would like to make a career in sports journalism, read on to find out how to become a sports journalist in India or how sports journalism careers make you successful.

There are some sports journalism colleges in India that offer specifically designed sports journalism courses. However, I would advise pursuing graduation in mass communication before opting for specialization in sports journalism. The mass communication course will cultivate different skills related to journalism. Thus, when you pursue your sports journalism courses you know your interest areas and you can choose the line you like the most.

  • In a diverse environment, sports journalists write and report about different sports events.
  • All types of news featuring sports involve sports journalists.
  • Some of the major events captured in sports journalism are listed below:
  1. Game commentary
  2. Debate on the performance of a player
  3. Writing statistics based on the sports event
  4. Forecasting results
  5. Reporting a sports event
  6. Taking interviews with players and coaches
  7. And more

In sports journalism, there are many career options. It is not limited to writing articles on matches and sports. There are many things one can do to make an outstanding career in sports journalism. Let’s see the top 5 alluring career options one can have on this line.

Eligibility criteria:

  • 10 + 2 in any stream
  • Graduation in mass communication and journalism

After graduation, you can also pursue a specialization in sports journalism to add more skills and knowledge to gain a competitive benefit.

Major skills required:

To make a career in sports journalism, along with the right degree, you also need to have some vital skills such as:

  • Knowledge of different types of sports
  • Passion for sport
  • An eye to detail
  • Creativity
  • Excellent research ability
  • Building relationships with sportsmen, coaches, and fans

If you have a passion for sports, the other skills can be cultivated during your studies of sports journalism.

Package:

Depending on skills, a sports journalist can make from 10,000 Rs/Month to 1,50,000 Rs/Month or more.

Benefits of becoming a sports journalist

  • Meet ace performers in the sports industry
  • Great package and lucrative career opportunities
  • Opportunities to network with business people, celebrities, etc.
  • Free passes for sports events
  • International tour to cover international sports events
  • And more

Drawbacks of becoming a sports journalist

  • Lower wages in the initial days of your career
  • Long working hours
  • Travelling

Other career options in sports journalism

Along with sports journalists, you also have some other interesting career options in sports journalism such as:

  • Sports news writer
  • Sports news editor
  • Commentator on radio, TV, or digital channel
  • Public relationship manager of a sportsperson or a sports team
  • Online editor of digital magazines on sports
  • Director or producer of sports events
  • Event manager of sports events
  • And more

How to Make a Career in Sports Journalism?

  • First, pursue a mass communication and journalism course to kick start your career in sports journalism.
  • Pursue a specialization course in sports journalism.
  • Join print, digital, or broadcast media channelsÅ› for fellowship.
  • Grab the next opportunities to make a thriving career in sports journalism.