Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for sports reporters in the United States
Sports reporter job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sports reporter job growth rate is -10% from 2018-2028.
About -5,100 new jobs for sports reporters are projected over the next decade.
Sports reporter salaries have increased 16% for sports reporters in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,063 sports reporters currently employed in the United States.
There are 4,296 active sports reporter job openings in the US.
The average sports reporter salary is $96,119.
Are sports reporter jobs in demand?
Sports reporter job and salary trends over time
Sports reporter jobs over time
Sports reporter job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,063 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 7,496 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,899 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,163 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,429 | 0.00% |
Average sports reporter salary over time
Sports reporter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $96,119 | $46.21 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $92,858 | $44.64 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $90,193 | $43.36 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | $86,061 | $41.38 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $82,673 | $39.75 | +4.0% |
Sports reporter jobs by state
Most common states for sports reporters
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 17 | 2% |
| 2 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 60 | 1% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 43 | 1% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 37 | 1% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 31 | 1% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 31 | 1% |
| 7 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 25 | 1% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 17 | 1% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 9 | 1% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 9 | 1% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 7 | 1% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 7 | 1% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 6 | 1% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 6 | 1% |
| 15 | Alaska | 739,795 | 4 | 1% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 121 | 0% |
| 17 | New York | 19,849,399 | 88 | 0% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 24 | 0% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 15 | 0% |
| 20 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 11 | 0% |
Most common cities for sports reporters
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $63,676 |
| 2 | Anchorage | 1 | 0% | $99,538 |
| 3 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $56,556 |
| 4 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $103,422 |
Sports Reporter job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sports reporter experts
Washington and Lee University
Towson University
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Belmont University
Miami University
University of Georgia
Fairfield University
University of Kentucky
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Lehigh University
Luther College
California State University
Colorado Public Radio
Arkansas State University
University of Nevada - Reno
Independent Newsmedia, Inc.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
K. Megan Hopper Ph.D.: I would advise that graduates should be prepared to be quick on their feet and never expect the same thing from day to day. Also, be prepared and embrace continual learning - learning about the craft as well as learning about various aspects of life and culture - and to always keep an open mind. The job is rarely boring and that is what makes journalism so exciting!
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
K. Megan Hopper Ph.D.: Certainly becoming even more mobile and multi-modal than one already has to be in the field. I would also say becoming aware of Artificial Intelligence and how to best navigate it and if using it, how to do so responsibly and ethically.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
K. Megan Hopper Ph.D.: By diversifying your skill set as much as possible. Being able to competently gather facts and organize them effectively, shoot interesting and impactful video, capture effective soundbites, post on the web with supporting hyperlinking, and being accurate, timely, and ethical at all times.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Kevin Finch: Comfort with all forms of technology-the obvious answer. In corporate boardrooms all over America, the suits view you as a techno-genius even though they've never met you. That's because they make that generalization about everyone in your generation. It may be unfair, but it's often the price of admission. So, be conversant in many social media platforms. Learn all you can about AI. Be able to explain algorithms to your new colleagues and bosses. They will probably end up learning from you.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Finch: Don't panic. There are lots of jobs available, especially in TV news and in new startups-newsletters, podcasts, web-based operations. But most jobs in communications do not hire a year in advance like some high-level business jobs. You are NOT behind if you don't have a job right now. You'll get one.
Be honest with yourself. Don't apply for jobs you don't really want just for the sake of trying to get something. Picture yourself on the other end of a phone call when a manager says, "Congratulations, you're hired." If the thought makes you nervous or sad, don't apply. Don't waste their time and yours. Sometimes that's about a region of the country where you'd prefer not to live. Sometimes, it's about a particular city, or certain ownership. Whatever your own objection, listen to your inner voice and don't apply.
Bring your family into the conversation. It's YOUR job and your career, but things will go better if you explain what your work hours will be. Some family compromises include asking you to take a job within a two-hour flight of home-or a six-hour car ride. Also, educate them on the likelihood that you may move three times before you're 30. It's the nature of journalism and related careers.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Kevin Finch: Consider your options. Two entry-level jobs may have two very different starting salaries.-because of different sized cities or different corporate pay structures. Don't be desperate and say yes to the first offer without considering those options.
You CAN ask for more money. In my first TV news job when Marconi was young, that ask resulted in just over $250 a year, but it was something. Some places are very rigid. Others have more flexibility.
If they don't budge on salary, how about opportunities for overtime? Or, ask the new boss to pay for your hotel stay to allow you to look for an apartment-or maybe for moving expense money.
Remember this: It's not a life sentence. It's usually a two-year contract. When you apply for your second job, you'll have much more leverage.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Mastering all trades, for example, if you are a journalist, you need reporting skills, social media storytelling skills, basic photography/video skills, and editing skills. Using storyboards and graphics such as Canva, and effectively using social media for sourcing, interviews, checking accuracy, and promoting stories will become irreplaceable.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Building a portfolio while in school, which will 'show not tell' your prospective employers that you have already done what is required for the job.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Pallavi Guha Ph.D.: Mastering all trades, for example, if you are journalist, you need reporting skills, social media story telling skills, basic photography/video skills, and editing skills. Using storyboard and graphics such Canva, and effectively using social media for sourcing, interviews, checking accuracy, and promoting stories will become irreplaceable.
Natalie Becerra
Career Development SpecialistUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Natalie Becerra: Do your research! If you plan to negotiate your salary you need to go in with some research to back up that counteroffer. There are plenty of reliable sites out there to help you determine the market average salary for the type of role you're applying for, while also taking geographic location into consideration. I also encourage students to try and get a rough estimate of their cost of living, especially if they plan to relocate to a larger city, so they can make sure they can make ends meet with the salary they're offered. That research plus evaluating your "value adds" you bring to the role (prestigious education, years of relevant experience, etc.) are all things that you can use to advocate for yourself.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Natalie Becerra: I think some very important skills that will be important to have are resourcefulness and research skills. Especially in the journalism and media industries everything is very trend driven. That means people need to have better research-backed strategies if they want to see long-term, sustainable success. It will be hard to just rely on clickbait and bandwagoning forever, so people should sharpen their research skills and foster a sense of curiosity and resourcefulness to dig deeper and find information for themselves.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Natalie Becerra: In general, I encourage new graduates to stay curious. After you graduate it feels like you're standing on the edge of a cliff in a way, like the road has stopped. There are no more set milestones for you unless you set them yourself. A way to combat that existential feeling is to be curious. Some things you can do are 1) figure out who you are as an individual, 2) ask yourself what you truly enjoy doing for fun, 3) try to learn new skills or gain new experiences, and 4) if you're future-oriented or goal-oriented ask yourself what you want to plan for. The biggest adjustment for me after graduation was figuring out what to do outside of work. I had no hobbies and no idea what I liked to do for fun because I was working or studying outside of classes all through college. So do that self-reflection and act on the self-discoveries!
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson
Assistant Professor of JournalismBelmont University
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson: Journalists get to talk to different people everyday and tell different stories. They are relentless questioners; they want to find out the how and why of events and explain them to others. Journalists are storytellers who deal in facts. The negatives can be the pressure to meet deadlines and discomfort of telling stories others don't want told and the rigor of being edited and fact-checked.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson: Now more than ever, we need journalists to hold those in power accountable and write unbiased, ethically sourced stories. Journalists can inform, educate and help create a more informed society that leads to a strong democracy. Journalists can uncover corruption, lift up the marginalized and explain complex international issues as well as telling audiences about their local communities.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Assistant Professor Dorren Robinson: A journalist, whether print, digital or broadcast tells relevant, important stories happening in his or her community. Journalists strive to be fast, but also must provide accurate, objective, verifiable stories grounded in research and ethical reporting. Journalists should tell you what to think about, but not what to think.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Professor Julia Wallace: First: Be confident. If you don't believe in yourself, others won't. Second: Be resilient. You will face setbacks. Figure out how to bounce back from them in the way that's best for you. Third: Adapt and keep learning. The field is changing fast, and you want to be one step ahead. And finally, be a good ally - help those around you and make your work environment better.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Julia Wallace: Ask for more money. Too often, graduates - particularly women - are too intimidated to ask for more money. That's a mistake. Do your research. Know the range and ask for slightly more. Explain your value. Don't tell a potential employer you need more money. Instead, tell them why you are worth more. All these steps are important in getting the highest salary possible in the beginning, but it also lets the employer know you're paying attention to how much they pay you.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Professor Julia Wallace: As always, the technical skills, such good writing and reporting, matter. Those who know how to use technology (including artificial intelligence) will be best equipped for the future. And, in increasingly collaborative workplaces, being a good team player is critical. Someone can have great skills but if they can't work with others, they won't survive.
Rosemary Pennington
Associate Professor & Area Coordinator of Journalism Miami UniversityMiami University
Journalism
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Rosemary Pennington: This one is harder, but I do think skill stacking is always a good idea. Someone who can, for example, write well, can work with data, and can take good photos is a more versatile reporter and could demand a higher salary than a reporter entering the field who has gotten really good at just one of those things. Building a deep resume through internships and working in student media can also help as it shows you are an experienced reporter who understands the fundamentals of the profession.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rosemary Pennington: Being data fluent and multimedia adept are of increasing importance in the field. Data has always been important to news, but with both data and tools to crunch it becoming more accessible, it's a good idea that beginning journalists become comfortable working with numbers.
So many news outlets are branching across media that journalists really should also get comfortable working in a variety of media. Specializing in a particular medium will not help you find, and keep, a job the way it once did. That doesn't mean you have to be good at it all, but you should be familiar with how news is reported in a variety of formats.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Rosemary Pennington: I think it's important for individuals to cast as wide a net as possible when looking for that first journalism job. The worst thing a new journalist can do right now is cut off options. Apply for TV jobs, online jobs, print jobs -- apply where the jobs are. Most journalism curricula are training graduates to work in a multitude of environments and many employers are willing to provide on the job training around specific skills if the potential employee has a good news foundation. Getting that first job can be the hardest step in building a journalism career, so being open to what media you work in, and where you work, can help you land that first gig.
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.
Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership.University of Georgia
Journalism
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.: Artificial intelligence, or AI, is becoming more relevant to journalism jobs, and in the next few years it will become an essential tool for journalists if it already isn't one. Journalists will increasingly use AI as they prepare interview guides, mine data, search for sources, and edit audio or video stories. Journalists have long been comfortable interviewing human subjects. Journalists now must become comfortable with prompt engineering, which is essentially interviewing the computer. But while AI can help journalists become more productive, journalists must also recognize the ethical challenges that come with using these tools and learn to become more transparent with their audiences about how and why AI tools are deployed in a newsroom.
What will help Sports Reporters increase their earning potential?
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.: Don't be afraid to negotiate your starting salary. Young journalists have a lot to offer newsrooms through social media skills and a willingness to adapt to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Technology skills have value and should not be undersold. Also, young journalism students should not discount the value of their student media and internship experiences. Young journalists must use everything on their resumes to show how they bring value to their position and ask to be compensated fairly for the work they will contribute to the newsroom's success.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Dr. Keith Herndon Ph.D.: The journalism field is in flux, so it is very important to be flexible and adaptable and consider jobs with start-ups and non-profit news organizations that may not be at the top of the list. Also, government data shows that about 25% of working journalists are self-employed. Given the size of that proportion, young journalists need to begin thinking like an entrepreneur in terms of self-branding, and they must learn basic skills of running their own business such as how to pitch and price their work and how to submit invoices to get paid.
Matt Tullis
Director of Digital Journalism, Co-Director of Sports Media, Assistant Professor of Practice of Digital Journalism, Author of Running With Ghosts, Host and Producer of Gangrey: The PodcastFairfield University
College of Arts & Sciences
What skills will help Sports Reporters earn the most?
Matt Tullis: I don't know if there is a definite answer to this, other than you just have to be willing to work hard to pull off amazing journalism. The more you do that, the more you move up the ranks.
Scoobie Ryan
Associate DirectorUniversity of Kentucky
School of Journalism and Media
What skills stand out on Sports Reporter resumes?
Scoobie Ryan: Traditional skills on a journalist's resume are important-writing, editing, and storytelling-but we're seeing demand for things like the ability to fly a drone and use it to gather video. A student who has an FAA drone pilot's license on a resume plus the ability to shoot and edit video shot using a drone stands out. As a result, our Drone Journalism class is very popular.
Students who can use a variety of hardware and software are in demand for MMJ jobs. Our students get experience with Canon DSLRs, Sony Mirrorless, 360 cameras, GoPro Fusions, and more. They learn to use the Adobe Creative Suite. Students also need to be able to shoot, edit and post a story using just a smartphone.
Knowledge of social media is essential-not just how to use it, but its rhythms and pace. Students must understand how to promote a story on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, livestream it on Facebook, and post to YouTube.
Producers are in high demand. They must be able to know how a story will develop and stay ahead of it. They need to write well on deadlines, work collaboratively, stay calm, and multi-task.
It helps if they're platform agnostic. We encourage them not to think of themselves as print reporters, broadcasters, or web producers. Journalists who can find the truth, verify it and present it using the platform best suited to reach their audience are in demand.
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate HeadUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sports Reporter job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: Obviously work that can be done remotely is at a premium, and writers in particular will benefit from this. Freelance writers have long worked remotely and on their own schedule. The shift now will involve science writers, technical writers, corporate communications professionals-anyone who knows how to put sentences together with clarity, elegance, and professionalism. So the ability to write well-the way that English majors are trained to-is key to capitalizing on the trends.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: I think graduates should always find ways to offer their services to professional organizations-nonprofits, small businesses, even larger firms. If graduates can get a foot in the door with a professional organization-paid or unpaid-and work to hone their writing and communicating skills, they'll be well positioned to pursue a variety of alternative career paths.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Dr. Anthony Cuda Ph.D.: Uncertainty abounds, but society is adapting and learning to live in new ways. You'll make yourself essential by proving your adaptability, your willingness to change gears and try new ways of working, but also by proving that you can be both nimble (quick to adapt and change) and rigorously attentive to detail. Attention to detail-the equivalent of rigorous, thorough proofreading in any profession-will set you apart from your peers and get you noticed.
Jack Lule Ph.D.
Lacocca ProfessorLehigh University
Department of Journalism and Communication
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sports Reporters?
Jack Lule Ph.D.: I think the pandemic will have enduring impacts on many aspects of life, from restaurants to public transportation to city living-to, not in the least, journalism. Many media organizations were already quite fragile because of the ongoing loss of advertisers and paying subscribers. The pandemic hastened their demise. Ironically, in some ways, that is good news for college graduates. The news organizations that remain will have truly endured the worst of times and will be looking to grow.
Another more subtle aspect of the pandemic for journalism careers is the renewed respect for local news. Social media and the big media corporations are great at covering national and international news. But, during the pandemic, where did people go for news on how the virus was affecting their own schools, towns, restaurants, hospitals, sports? The local news media. I think the pandemic will actually help strengthen local news media and provide really interesting jobs.
What type of skills will young Sports Reporters need?
Jack Lule Ph.D.: I always laugh when alumni ask what classes we are teaching students now. I tell them: We have to teach today's students everything we taught you-how to report, write and edit, how to fact check and make deadlines, how to tape audio, shoot photographs and make videos. And each year, we have to add more! We have added classes in data, data visualization, multimedia, and social media. And we introduce our students to artificial intelligence. They will need all of that to get started. But, paradoxically, as they progress in their careers, they will be asked to develop a specialty and be really good at one thing.
What experience really stands out on Sports Reporter resumes?
Jack Lule Ph.D.: I think ANY experience stands out at first. We require that students work for the college newspaper. We require that students work a senior internship-and we set it up for them. We help them get other internships during the summers. But as employers dig deeper into student resumes, the ability of students to work on their own will really stand out. Organizations are so lean these days that no one has the time, unfortunately, to train or teach a new employee. Students have to be prepared to hit the ground running-or more likely-sprinting!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sports Reporters?
David Faldet: Their senior year is going to be memorable: a year of trials and challenges and disappointments that will set them apart from people who came before them. The virtual education and networked learning required for the eighteen months leading up to their graduation will also give them good credentials as they enter the work-from-home or connect-remotely environment of business today.
What experience really stands out on Sports Reporter resumes?
David Faldet: Number one, employers want to see initiative, but they want to see that you know how to work within an organization, too. They are also looking for skills older employees may lack, such as ease with social media or new technologies. Finally, even though they may hire you for your youth, they may be ten, twenty, or thirty years older than you, and they want to feel you understand and can talk to them. That will matter a lot.
What type of skills will young Sports Reporters need?
David Faldet: Those college years of reading, writing, and discussing literature mean English majors have three skills business leaders want: creativity, the ability to communicate well, and the empathy that can set a person or a business apart. Creativity is crucial in a time of change such as this one, and as employers look to transform their business model. Good communication is basic within a business and in reaching out to the market. Empathy is there to make sure communication matters and reaches a receptive audience.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sports Reporter job market given the pandemic?
Aaron Quinn Ph.D.: In my limited observations, the pandemic has changed journalism workflow from being office-based to having employees working from home and other locations that are suitable to getting their jobs done. It has certainly made experienced journalists more valuable than usual because they have familiarity with protocol and professional standards. The pandemic has also led to staff reductions and/or furloughs, largely because the slim advertising offerings have become even more scarce as small businesses who advertise in local and regional publications struggle to stay open.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Aaron Quinn Ph.D.: I suspect a university graduate who takes a gap year prior to something like full-time journalism employment won't exactly be frowned upon under the circumstances. Almost everyone in the industry is struggling to stay afloat in one context or another. That said, this has always been a competitive industry, so future candidates who have maintained an effort to practice some journalism to remain sharp will have an advantage over those who drop it for a year. I've rarely known a news leader who doesn't appreciate persistent, enterprising new journalists. Take six to ten hours a week during most weeks to pursue a story or two in your locality as an independent journalist, and attempt to sell it to a local news organization. Even if they don't buy or publish it, you'll get someone's attention and you'll remain fluent in the practice of the craft. You'll probably open some doors for future employment as well. I can't stress that enough.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Aaron Quinn Ph.D.: Practice, practice, practice. Seek feedback from experienced practitioners, and don't let your ego stunt your growth. I would do the exact same thing if I went back to working in a newsroom again, and this is something that as a department we seek out from our advisory board of professionals. We craft our practice-based curriculum in large part based on feedback from professionals, even if it sometimes runs contrary to our intuitions and biases.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sports Reporter job market given the pandemic?
Rachel Estabrook: In my opinion, in terms of journalism jobs, the need for these jobs is only getting bigger in the pandemic. But the finances of almost every news outlet have suffered. Even in nonprofit media, sponsorships have declined as businesses don't have events to promote, for example. So hiring may be a bit more stagnant than it otherwise would have been. Unfortunately, you're also seeing journalists furloughed and even let go sometimes when outlets are forced to contract given the economic pressures.
What Sports Reporter skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rachel Estabrook: If a graduate needs to take a gap year, I'd suggest they try to establish a freelancing relationship with a news outlet they want to work for. There's no better way to get on a hiring manager's radar than to show them your work. Pitch some stories you think would expand the news outlet's coverage. Or, if you're not ready for that yet or can't afford to do that, spend your free time reading about a topic that interests you that you want to report on, and think about how you'd want to cover those stories, so you're ready to pitch when the time comes to apply for jobs. Or, spend your time building your technical skills. Data reporting skills are really valuable in newsrooms, as are coding skills. In radio, get familiar with audio editing. You can use free software online and record on a phone; the barrier to entry in audio is low. Experiment and build your portfolio so you can demonstrate interest when the time comes to apply for jobs.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Rachel Estabrook: For a graduate beginning their career, I'd recommend a few things. Most importantly, be hungry. Go doggedly after whatever stories most interest you. Take time to build sources, by taking people out to coffee (when that's safe to do) and checking in with them regularly to ask what's up in their world. Follow your interests, even if they lead somewhere that traditional journalism outlets haven't always gone; given the summer of protests and focus on racial equity, traditional outlets are hungrier than ever for stories they haven't historically told. Be humble while also being confident; know that you have a lot to offer and your approach is valuable, but that you also have a lot to learn.
What skills stand out on Sports Reporter resumes?
Dr. Ronald Sitton Ph.D.: Writing will always be an important skill. Even if someone prefers to be a broadcast journalist or photojournalist, most news outlets keep an internet presence, which requires great writing such that the public can find out additional information unavailable through a photograph or in the time constraints of a broadcast medium. Whether graduates prefer to remain in the industry or seek employment elsewhere, every employer wants to hire someone who can willingly communicate their ideas precisely and concisely.
Reporting skills will also remain important as employers need employees who understand how to properly research and vet information prior to publication. They must know how and when to ask the difficult questions that provide insights into contentious issues. Prior to beginning work, reporters must pitch their ideas, which is a skill that also is useful outside of the industry.
With the continual movement of publications to online outlets, knowledge of content management systems (e.g., WordPress) becomes even more important than it previously was. Knowledge of standard industry software including Photoshop and InDesign is almost mandatory, while video editing skills will stand out even more due to the amount of video now gathered through internet interviews. Graduates entering the field with a multiplatform skill set will possess skills a lot of veteran journalists are still learning.
It's expected that journalists understand the necessity of using critical thinking, being dependable, making deadlines, and adapting to change. Showing how they've previously done this rather than just telling that they can will stand out to employers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sports Reporters to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ronald Sitton Ph.D.: With corporate media continuing to downsize and local media disappearing, some may find it difficult to suggest ANY good places to find work. However, opportunities now exist that haven't existed in a century. Where once one had to own a press in order to publish, now the internet provides a press to almost anyone. This will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to make their own jobs covering a niche, such as focusing on city government in cities and towns that no longer have a traditional outlet. The idea, "Build it and they will come", actually works here - i.e., if journalists can professionally and adequately cover traditional news where no coverage exists anymore, citizens will notice and attend to the outlet to stay informed on local occurrences. We've seen this in a few different places in Arkansas where entrepreneurs saw a need and started their own outlet; the advertisers soon followed as the outlets provided the only area for miles around for their target audience of local customers.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sports Reporter job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ronald Sitton Ph.D.: Although the pandemic definitely presents a challenge to incoming journalists, the bigger challenge may be the news deserts popping up throughout the country. Fewer outlets mean fewer traditional opportunities. Those entering the industry will not only be competing with other graduates, but also with veteran journalists now seeking employment. The pandemic adds another layer: many interviews will be conducted over the internet instead of in-person. Those who aren't professional in these interviews face additional hiring challenges, e.g., nobody's going to hire someone who interviews from their bed in pajamas.
Yet those who can be comfortable and professional in an internet interview will show potential employers that they can be expected to conduct themselves professionally in a setting that's becoming increasingly common. The pandemic continues to require journalists to innovate when obtaining information. For example, instead of being able to visit a source in their professional setting, now they will often see the source work from home. Noticing how the source chooses to present themselves in that setting will provide details for stories the general public might not otherwise see. Will their animals or children walk in and out during the interview? How does the source react to interruptions? As a result, journalists have an opportunity to make their sources more "human" for the audience.
Although much has gone online, it will still be necessary for broadcast journalists to gather B-roll and natural sound for their work. It will still be necessary for print and online journalists to include photography with their written work. Journalism isn't a job for people who want to stay home during the pandemic.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Sports Reporters, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Paul Mitchell Ph.D.: The misconception is that there is no money in the communications fields. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our journalism majors are employed (in the last several years) at a higher rate than most of the other majors. My guess is starting salaries will continue to be on the rise.
What general advice would you give to a Sports Reporter?
Darel La Prade: The pandemic and the necessity to keep everyone safe have affected every aspect of the newspaper business. We are still hiring as needed, of course. Still, we are putting more emphasis than ever on recruiting digital natives for all our positions, whether in editorial, sales, or circulation. It only makes sense. In-person training and orientation are limited, so much of a new person's introduction to our company, its values, and culture, is now passed on digitally. We need people who are comfortable with video-conferencing and using collaborative software like Teams. More than ever, we need motivated self-managers, who take responsibility for their training and improvement. Then, of course, all of this also applies to our workflow, which is now more digital and remote than ever.