A Student’s Guide to Becoming a Sports Journalist

If you love sports and storytelling, sports journalism can be an exciting and rewarding career. Sports journalists don’t just report scores, they explain why games matter, tell athlete stories, and capture the emotion behind competition.

This guide is written especially for young students who are curious about how to turn their passion for sports into a profession.

What Does a Sports Journalist Do?

A sports journalist covers games, athletes, teams, and sports culture across platforms such as websites, newspapers, TV, podcasts, and social media. You might:

• Write match reports and features
• Interview athletes and coaches
• Analyze tactics and performances
• Create videos, podcasts, or social posts
• Work behind the scenes as a researcher or editor

Some journalists work for big outlets like ESPN, while others build independent blogs, YouTube channels, or TikTok accounts.

Step 1: Start Early (You Don’t Have to Wait)

You don’t need a degree to start, you just need curiosity and consistency.

What you can do now:

• Write game recaps for your school teams
• Start a simple sports blog or Substack
• Post short analysis videos on Instagram or TikTok
• Volunteer to help with your school newspaper or media club

Covering local or school sports is one of the best ways to learn. It teaches you deadlines, accuracy, and how to tell a story people care about.

Step 2: Build Strong Writing & Communication Skills

Sports journalists must explain fast-moving action clearly and confidently.

Focus on:

• Clear, simple writing
• Strong headlines and openings
• Asking good interview questions
• Learning basic grammar and editing

Reading quality sports journalism, from long-form profiles to quick game recaps, will sharpen your style. Pay attention to how writers describe moments and build tension.

Step 3: Learn the Sports (Really Well)

Knowing the rules is just the start. Great sports journalists understand:

• Strategy and tactics
• Player roles and statistics
• History and rivalries
• The business and culture of sports

Whether you love soccer, basketball, hockey, or esports, go deep. Watch games critically and ask why things happened, not just what happened.

Step 4: Photography & Video Matter More Than Ever

Modern sports journalism is highly visual. Even writers are often expected to understand photography and video.

Sports Photography Basics

Photos help tell the story of a game instantly.

• Action shots (goals, tackles, celebrations)
• Emotion (victory, defeat, focus, frustration)
• Context (crowds, stadiums, atmosphere)

Learning how to frame action, use fast shutter speeds, and respect editorial image rules is crucial, especially when covering real events.

Sourcing Editorial Photos

Not every sports journalist is on the sidelines with a camera, and that’s okay. Knowing how to legally and ethically source sports photos is an essential skill, especially for students starting out. You will need to familiarize yourself with platforms that offer editorial sports photos and learn about licensing.

When sourcing sports imagery, focus on photos that capture the same storytelling elements as on-field photography:

• Action – goals, tackles, sprints, saves, celebrations
• Emotion – joy, frustration, intensity, heartbreak
• Context – crowds, stadiums, team benches, game atmosphere

For real games and athletes, it’s critical to use editorial-licensed images, not commercial stock. Editorial photos are meant for news, commentary, and educational use and cannot be altered or used for advertising.

Video & Short-Form Content

Video skills are a huge advantage:

• Post-game interviews
• Highlight clips
• Analysis breakdowns
• Social-first vertical video

Many young journalists grow their audience through video before landing writing opportunities. Platforms that focus on real sports moments (not staged content) are especially useful when learning editorial standards.

Step 5: Study Journalism or Media (Optional but Helpful)

Many sports journalists study:

• Journalism
• Communications
• Media studies
• Sports management

College programs also provide access to student media, internships, and press opportunities, especially when covering college leagues like the NCAA.

That said, a strong portfolio can sometimes matter more than your degree.

Step 6: Create a Portfolio (Your Most Important Asset)

Your portfolio shows what you can actually do.

Include:

• Game recaps
• Feature stories
• Interviews
• Photos or videos you’ve captured
• Links to blogs or social accounts

Even unpaid or school-level work counts, editors want proof of consistency and passion.

Step 7: Get Experience & Network

Sports journalism is competitive, but relationships matter. Before you rake in the big salary you will need experience and know the right people.

Ways to get experience:

• Intern with local media outlets
• Contribute to sports blogs
• Cover amateur or youth leagues
• Attend press events (when allowed)

Follow journalists you admire, engage professionally online, and don’t be afraid to pitch story ideas.

The Reality (and the Opportunity)

Sports journalism can involve long hours, tight deadlines, and lots of competition. But it also offers:

• A career built around what you love
• Access to incredible events
• The chance to tell meaningful stories

With today’s tools, students can build an audience before getting hired. Writing, photography, and video together give you a major edge.

Final Advice for Students

• Start now, not “someday”
• Be curious, not just a fan
• Learn visuals, not just words
• Be consistent, even when no one is watching

If you love sports and storytelling, sports journalism isn’t just a dream, it’s a skill set you can start building today.