Five ways to break into the sports journalism industry

Sports journalism is one of the most popular and competitive areas of journalism, so let’s look at five tips on how to get your foot in the door.

1. Choose a subject you are passionate about

Sports journalism is a crowded market; to stand out, you should aim to write about a sport or specific sports angle you are really passionate about. You may have seen one or two writers in the national press who cover different sports, but these are usually experienced journalists who have cut their teeth writing about one sport in depth.

2. Decide where to study sports journalism

You will find there are a number of sports journalism courses available to you, including online. Journalism schools such as https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/journalism-courses/sports/ are accredited by the NCTJ, with NCTJ accreditation being the hallmark of excellence in journalism training.

3. Begin with a look at your local sports coverage

Although you may have plans to work for a national newspaper, national magazine publisher, or national broadcaster, it is best to lower your sights and look at local sports coverage in your area. Contact local clubs and ask whether you can contribute to their online content; alternatively, contact your local newspaper or radio station and try to chat with local writers.

4. Hone your skills

Make sure you are writing as much as possible, such as writing a sports blog. Begin by getting friends and family to read your posts and ask them for their feedback. Remember that many sports journalists begin their careers working in general news; therefore, alongside reading the sports pages, you might also like to read news stories that relate to sports and features on aspects such as sports medicine and psychology.

5. Pitch interesting ideas

Think outside the box when pitching ideas; for example, you can interview people working in sports in roles that do not normally make the headlines. You should also think about what stories you and your friends would be interested in that are not normally covered.