Sports reporter job description
Updated March 14, 2024
6 min read
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Example sports reporter requirements on a job description
Sports reporter requirements can be divided into technical requirements and required soft skills. The lists below show the most common requirements included in sports reporter job postings.
Sample sports reporter requirements
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Strong knowledge of sports and its history
- Ability to work under tight deadlines
- Proficient in using multimedia tools (e.g. video and audio editing software)
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or related field
Sample required sports reporter soft skills
- Ability to work well in a team
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing work environment
- Strong attention to detail
- Positive attitude and enthusiasm for the job
- Ability to network and build relationships with sources and contacts
Sports reporter job description example 1
Lee Enterprises sports reporter job description
NHL/St. Louis Blues reporter
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is looking for a versatile, hard-charging and digitally focused hockey writer to help lead our St. Louis Blues coverage. This is a chance to cover a competitive NHL team in a dynamic region with a strong hockey fan base. This is a premier sports reporting position in our area, but your work will also be seen by fans across the country.
We want a reporter who is comfortable in all facets of a sports beat, from game coverage, to breaking news, to player profiles, to strong analysis. The job entails a full range of pre-season, in-season and playoff coverage, and we're open to new ideas on how to best cover the team on our digital platforms. The position includes responsibilities such as podcasts, live chats and videos. A strong social media presence is a must.
Three to five years of experience handling a major sports beat is preferred.
If you're interested in joining our award-winning sports staff, in a city that is a hotbed of sports, please include a resume and 7-8 samples of your work.
Why Join Us?
Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic, interesting work environment with career growth opportunities. We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs. Our benefit program includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match. We also offer generous paid time off to allow the flexibility to balance personal life and work. This includes paid parental leave for new parents.
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of high-quality local news, with 77 daily newspapers in 26 states that have print, digital and e-replica versions. Lee's newspapers have a combined circulation of more than 1.2 million daily. Our digital sites attract more than 44 million unique visits monthly. We also have a rapidly growing roster of digital products for consumers, and are committed to aggressive digital growth.
Lee Enterprises is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting and retaining a workforce whose diversity reflects the communities we serve. Lee embraces change, and we recognize that we must create and maintain a culture of fervent inclusion. For more information about Lee, check us out at www.lee.net.
We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you are excited about this role but do not meet 100% of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply.
Other details
* Job Family News
* Pay Type Hourly
Apply Now
* St. Louis, MO, USA
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is looking for a versatile, hard-charging and digitally focused hockey writer to help lead our St. Louis Blues coverage. This is a chance to cover a competitive NHL team in a dynamic region with a strong hockey fan base. This is a premier sports reporting position in our area, but your work will also be seen by fans across the country.
We want a reporter who is comfortable in all facets of a sports beat, from game coverage, to breaking news, to player profiles, to strong analysis. The job entails a full range of pre-season, in-season and playoff coverage, and we're open to new ideas on how to best cover the team on our digital platforms. The position includes responsibilities such as podcasts, live chats and videos. A strong social media presence is a must.
Three to five years of experience handling a major sports beat is preferred.
If you're interested in joining our award-winning sports staff, in a city that is a hotbed of sports, please include a resume and 7-8 samples of your work.
Why Join Us?
Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic, interesting work environment with career growth opportunities. We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs. Our benefit program includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match. We also offer generous paid time off to allow the flexibility to balance personal life and work. This includes paid parental leave for new parents.
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of high-quality local news, with 77 daily newspapers in 26 states that have print, digital and e-replica versions. Lee's newspapers have a combined circulation of more than 1.2 million daily. Our digital sites attract more than 44 million unique visits monthly. We also have a rapidly growing roster of digital products for consumers, and are committed to aggressive digital growth.
Lee Enterprises is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting and retaining a workforce whose diversity reflects the communities we serve. Lee embraces change, and we recognize that we must create and maintain a culture of fervent inclusion. For more information about Lee, check us out at www.lee.net.
We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you are excited about this role but do not meet 100% of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply.
Other details
* Job Family News
* Pay Type Hourly
Apply Now
* St. Louis, MO, USA
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Sports reporter job description example 2
Nexstar Media Group sports reporter job description
The Sports Reporter is responsible for researching, writing, capturing visual content and editing stories for multiple platforms.
Lansing, Michigan is home to Magic Johnson, John Smoltz, and Ryan Miller. It's also home to the next great sports reporter.
WLNS-TV, the CBS affiliate in this sports-crazy Big Ten town, has a rare opening for a job in our sports department.
If all you can do is play-by-play and locker room interviews, don't bother applying. We need a sports reporter. You'll be expected to make contacts, come up with story ideas, and follow and break the "news" of sports. We want a story finder as well as a storyteller.
This is not a 9-to-5 job. And it's not for the lazy for faint of heart. There are long days and strange hours. You will work weekends. You will shoot your own stuff. You will get to anchor, but that won't be the bulk of your job.
For our part - we're committed to sports. When the Spartans go to the Big Dance, we're there. When the football team goes to a bowl game, we're there. We do various sports specials throughout the year, including a Big 10 football preview, a bowl special, and a special each week the Spartans remain in the NCAA basketball tournament. We also have the 5th Quarter - an award-winning high school football/basketball show each Friday night.
But we don't limit ourselves to football and basketball. We cover a host of high school and Spartan sports - including, but not limited to hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, golf, and track. Our market is also home to a minor league baseball team and the Michigan International Speedway.
Yes, we follow the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, but don't count on spending any time in Detroit. We like to keep the focus local.
+ Produces and presents sports reports for all platforms
+ Ensures that all sports content meets company standards for journalistic integrity and production quality
+ Writes and delivers sports stories in a clear and concise manner
+ Assists in writing, copy editing, researching and coordinating sports programming and other content
+ Responds to breaking sports events and other urgent newsrooms situations as required
+ Works closely with the sports team to develop comprehensive sports coverage
+ Participates in promotional activities including public appearances
+ Performs special projects and other duties as assigned
+ Shoots video for sports reports
+ Sets up, composes and executes video shots
+ Maintains video equipment
+ Edits video clips for television broadcasts and eMedia content
+ Writes stories for the website and other eMedia platforms
+ Interacts with viewers and users on social media sites
Requirements & Skills :
+ Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience
+ Comprehensive knowledge of sports and sports related activities
+ Fluency in English
+ Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
+ Superior on-air presence
+ Experience guiding, directing and motivating others
+ Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills
+ Proficiency with computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines and other office equipment
+ Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
+ Ability to effectively listen to fully understand problems and communicate with a team to shape a solution
+ Valid driver's license with a good driving record
+ Flexibility to work any shift
+ Examples of reporting on your resume tape (whether it is sports or not) are required. Tapes that only include anchoring, stand ups, and interviews will not be considered.
Lansing, Michigan is home to Magic Johnson, John Smoltz, and Ryan Miller. It's also home to the next great sports reporter.
WLNS-TV, the CBS affiliate in this sports-crazy Big Ten town, has a rare opening for a job in our sports department.
If all you can do is play-by-play and locker room interviews, don't bother applying. We need a sports reporter. You'll be expected to make contacts, come up with story ideas, and follow and break the "news" of sports. We want a story finder as well as a storyteller.
This is not a 9-to-5 job. And it's not for the lazy for faint of heart. There are long days and strange hours. You will work weekends. You will shoot your own stuff. You will get to anchor, but that won't be the bulk of your job.
For our part - we're committed to sports. When the Spartans go to the Big Dance, we're there. When the football team goes to a bowl game, we're there. We do various sports specials throughout the year, including a Big 10 football preview, a bowl special, and a special each week the Spartans remain in the NCAA basketball tournament. We also have the 5th Quarter - an award-winning high school football/basketball show each Friday night.
But we don't limit ourselves to football and basketball. We cover a host of high school and Spartan sports - including, but not limited to hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, golf, and track. Our market is also home to a minor league baseball team and the Michigan International Speedway.
Yes, we follow the Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings, but don't count on spending any time in Detroit. We like to keep the focus local.
+ Produces and presents sports reports for all platforms
+ Ensures that all sports content meets company standards for journalistic integrity and production quality
+ Writes and delivers sports stories in a clear and concise manner
+ Assists in writing, copy editing, researching and coordinating sports programming and other content
+ Responds to breaking sports events and other urgent newsrooms situations as required
+ Works closely with the sports team to develop comprehensive sports coverage
+ Participates in promotional activities including public appearances
+ Performs special projects and other duties as assigned
+ Shoots video for sports reports
+ Sets up, composes and executes video shots
+ Maintains video equipment
+ Edits video clips for television broadcasts and eMedia content
+ Writes stories for the website and other eMedia platforms
+ Interacts with viewers and users on social media sites
Requirements & Skills :
+ Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience
+ Comprehensive knowledge of sports and sports related activities
+ Fluency in English
+ Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
+ Superior on-air presence
+ Experience guiding, directing and motivating others
+ Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills
+ Proficiency with computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines and other office equipment
+ Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
+ Ability to effectively listen to fully understand problems and communicate with a team to shape a solution
+ Valid driver's license with a good driving record
+ Flexibility to work any shift
+ Examples of reporting on your resume tape (whether it is sports or not) are required. Tapes that only include anchoring, stand ups, and interviews will not be considered.
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Updated March 14, 2024
Updated March 14, 2024