Hey guys.Welcome back to another one of my blog posts. As you know I am hoping to one day work in the sports media industry. One problem I face, that I know is shared by a lot of my peers is figuring out what the path to sports media looks like. There are so many different careers available in sports media that all have their own pros and cons. Figuring out what position you want to end up in can almost be as hard as figuring out where to start.
With the advent of new media. The sports media world has grown exponentially. People’s access to sports media used to be their local sports radio, sports sections in the news, magazines, and if they had the right TV package, ESPN. Now there are countless sports media companies on the internet to go along with legacy media. Professional sports franchises and college sports alike have huge media teams. In some cases, there are more media employees in the building than players on the team. The market has grown, but it has also given hopeful future sports media employees a lot of decisions to make.
Your first decision is whether you want to work for a sports team or a media company that talks about sports. These two paths have similarities but are also quite different. In working for the media department of a sports franchise or university, you will be part of the team responsible for the public image and reputation of the organization employing you. Your work will most likely include writing press releases and working on the organization’s social media presence. If you would rather go down the path of media companies, you will be part of a team responsible for reporting on sports. You will most likely be in a fast-paced, competitive environment writing game recaps and potentially working on projects for social media.
There are other avenues for sports media, specifically on the broadcast side. These positions are hard to obtain. You would more than likely have to start for a small semi-professional or amateur team. There is also no guarantee of advancement as many broadcasters stay with their teams for life, and to move up someone has to notice you above other broadcasters which is no easy task.
Once you decide on a path you want to take, you have to decide what role you are best suited to fill. New employees won’t often be given a platform to speak to a company’s large platform, so don’t be expecting to host a show on your first day. This is why it is important to work on your writing. Talented writers who can work quickly are employees that every media company looks for. If you can write well, this is your best path to success in sports media. If you can’t write that well, the ability to create and edit content is also highly valued. Working in both photo and video editing software and honing your skills will also make you a high-value prospective employee.
Continue to work on projects. Writing and editing are skills that will continue to benefit you throughout your career. Never stop working to be better at both. Which career path would you rather take in sports media, working for a pro or college sports franchise or joining a sports media company?
Comment your answers and share the blog with your friends so we can go on our media journey together.