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Sports journalist vs reporter

The differences between sports journalists and reporters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a sports journalist and a reporter. Additionally, a sports journalist has an average salary of $61,682, which is higher than the $46,667 average annual salary of a reporter.

The top three skills for a sports journalist include twitter, facebook and news stories. The most important skills for a reporter are news stories, digital marketing, and facebook.

Sports journalist vs reporter overview

Sports JournalistReporter
Yearly salary$61,682$46,667
Hourly rate$29.65$22.44
Growth rate-10%-10%
Number of jobs2,02211,179
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Sports journalist vs reporter salary

Sports journalists and reporters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sports JournalistReporter
Average salary$61,682$46,667
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $100,000Between $29,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Citi
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between sports journalist and reporter education

There are a few differences between a sports journalist and a reporter in terms of educational background:

Sports JournalistReporter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 81%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorJournalismJournalism
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Sports journalist vs reporter demographics

Here are the differences between sports journalists' and reporters' demographics:

Sports JournalistReporter
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 79.1% Female, 20.9%Male, 44.8% Female, 55.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between sports journalist and reporter duties and responsibilities

Sports journalist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve worldwide coverage with one particular article criticizing racism in soccer.
  • Commentate expert analysis on college gymnastics and experience working live on ESPN
  • Construct and edit web-published multimedia pieces that are featured on the university's athletic programs.
  • Commentate expert analysis on college gymnastics and experience working live on ESPN

Reporter example responsibilities.

  • Report to managing editor as member of editorial staff, contribute to newspaper editorials.
  • Edit and revise press releases and submissions; proofread large amount of copy.
  • Use social media (i.e Twitter, Facebook) to relay 'trouble-spots' to local drivers.
  • Cover NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and general sports news events for as Dallas-based free-lance reporter.
  • Report and write for metro, arts, lifestyle, real estate, and regional sections of major daily newspaper.
  • Cover local government, environmental issues and write features in addition to photography and pagination for twice-weekly newspaper.
  • Show more

Sports journalist vs reporter skills

Common sports journalist skills
  • Twitter, 15%
  • Facebook, 15%
  • News Stories, 14%
  • Sports Stories, 10%
  • Local Sports, 6%
  • Sports Events, 4%
Common reporter skills
  • News Stories, 12%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Facebook, 6%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Photography, 5%
  • Feature Stories, 4%

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