Sports Writer: Salary and Career Facts
Do you enjoy sports, love to write and have strong opinions? If so, becoming a sports writer could be the career for you! Earning a bachelor's degree in journalism or English can help you hone your skills and potentially increase your future salary. Read on to learn about tools that can enable the world of sports to come alive through your writing! Schools offering English Reading & Writing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Training and Experience Do I Need to Be a Sports Writer?
In order to become a sports writer, you need to possess excellent written communication skills and a strong array of sports knowledge. Bachelor's degrees in English, journalism or communications are generally ideal; however, some successful sports writers receive training in other sports fields. You can obtain additional training and experience by contributing to local high school, college or community sports sections in newspapers or magazines. Constantly writing new articles and increasing your variety of experience will help prepare you for future opportunities.
In addition to a solid foundation in competition coverage and analysis, successful sports writers often have an aptitude for understanding sports as entertainment, as well as the influence of sports on society and ethical issues within the world of sports. As with all writing careers, you must connect with your audience to increase your exposure and success.
The Internet and blogging can also be a useful outlet for sports writers. Depending on your ability to generate an audience and offer an original perspective, a successful blog could help propel your career more quickly into mainstream recognition.
Where Will I Work?
The daily routine and environment for sports writers varies based upon the specific job. You may work in a large, busy atmosphere filled with other writers constantly typing and discussing as they seek to meet deadlines. Your work may also be done on a freelance basis from an individual office or from home with appropriate computer technology and resources.
Sports writing may often involve travel and long hours. Depending on the nature of the position, you may be called upon to cover various sporting events or conduct interviews across great distances and within the time availability of athletes or coaches. Additionally, you must have a high level of self-motivation and creative output in order to reach deadlines and generate compelling material.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
Income for sports writers varies greatly because of the wide range of opportunities and independent work available. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the bottom ten percent of writers earned $28,070 or less annually and the top ten percent earned $105,710 or more in May 2009, with a median salary of $53,900 (www.bls.gov). Sports writing is an increasingly competitive field due to the growing ease of the Internet and digital media. Your ability to set your writing apart based on your insights and unique views can enable greater recognition and income, according to the BLS.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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