How to Be a Sports Writer
Sports writers cover sports-related news stories in newspapers, magazines and online. They typically have a passion for sports and writing, and enjoy benefits that include press passes to attend sporting events, the opportunity to meet professional athletes and getting bylines for published articles.
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Instructions
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Learn all you can about sports. Attend sporting events, such as basketball, baseball and football games. Familiarize yourself with the history, rules and statistics of the sports that you are interested in covering. Stay current with major news events; read such magazines as Sports Illustrated and watch such sports television networks as ESPN and the NFL network.
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Earn a degree in journalism or English. Although not always necessary, many publications may expect or require you to have a degree. If earning a degree is not feasible for you, take as many journalism writing and editing courses as possible.
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Gain sports writing experience by becoming a stringer or correspondent for the sports section of a local newspaper. Volunteer to cover sporting events for your high school or college newspaper. Get an internship as a sports writer at a sports publication. Showcase your sports writing ability by creating your own sports blog. Although these measures may pay little to nothing, the writing experience gained will be valuable.
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Apply for a job as a sports writer. Check such websites as mediabistro.com and JournalismJobs.com. Contact the human resources department of your local newspaper to see if it is hiring sports writers. Offer free lance story ideas to sports publications by sending a query letter describing the story you wish to write and explaining why you are qualified to write it.
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Tips & Warnings
Familiarize yourself with all levels of your favorite sports including high school, collegiate and major league. Network with other sports writers. Take a typing course and learn Microsoft Word, which will make writing stories easier.
References
- Photo Credit www.sxc.hu/Ivan Prole
