By Ashley Miller
Nature of the Work: Irregular hours and tight deadlines are the price you pay for free entry into hundreds of sporting events a year. Reporting can be hectic -- news can happen at any time and usually does. When news breaks and the editor calls, reporters must be prepared to drop everything at a moment's notice and run, notebook in hand, to the newsworthy event. This unpredictability and “always on call” condition attract many to the field, though it is also one of the most common complaints. New media writers experience largely the same stresses, as Web sites have deadlines just the same as print. Reporters covering a steady beat may develop some rhythm to their days, but it is precarious routine. Sporting events can extend beyond deadlines, and writing under time pressure is always a danger. Depending upon what area of sports they're covering, reporters may find themselves anywhere from a posh press suite in the Astrodome to at a dusty baseball field compiling all their own statistics for a high-school game. Despite all the demands of the profession, sports writers are involved with sports all day, every day.
Most writers work in print, for newspapers and magazines, though Web sites are proliferating and hungry for content. Some reporters are employed full-time by a paper or organization, while others freelance and sell their work on an individual basis. Regardless of the publication, an ability to find and break stories and communicate in way readers understand is essential to successful reporting. Reporting skills are most important, though sports expertise is a plus. Sports reporters must also be able to meet deadlines with consistent, largely error-free work.
Education and Training: Employers generally prefer candidates with journalism degrees or a demonstrated ability to write effectively. More important than a degree is experience reporting. Employers look to see what you have done for your newspaper or in your internship. Budding sports reporters should take every opportunity to build their portfolio by writing for their school newspapers or Web sites. A large part of good reporting comes from experience, knowing how to find a story or wheedle a quote from a stubborn source. Larger metropolitan newspapers expect 3-5 years experience of candidates, which is generally gained at local papers or online news sites.
Job Outlook: Through consolidation of the industry jobs in journalism are expected to grow more slowly than average. Competition will remain intense, and openings will most likely be in smaller, niche publications. Expertise in a subject matter will put you in good stead.
Salary Range: $25,000 to $75,000.