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Sports writer vs assistant editor

The differences between sports writers and assistant editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a sports writer, becoming an assistant editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an assistant editor has an average salary of $52,284, which is higher than the $36,041 average annual salary of a sports writer.

The top three skills for a sports writer include SEO, game coverage and feature stories. The most important skills for an assistant editor are editorial content, video footage, and web content.

Sports writer vs assistant editor overview

Sports WriterAssistant Editor
Yearly salary$36,041$52,284
Hourly rate$17.33$25.14
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs16,9818,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4044
Years of experience24

What does a sports writer do?

A sportswriter is responsible for delivering facts about ongoing sports happening around the world. They must be familiar with athletes such as footballers and swimmers. Sportswriter must understand not only sports but also the biographies of athletes. The core concern of a sportswriter is to write in a plain and understandable style.

What does an assistant editor do?

An assistant editor is an individual responsible for assisting an editor-in-chief or editor-at-large of a newspaper, magazine, radio program, or website. Assistant editors hold meetings with staff and freelance writers to discuss new, fresh and original content for projects on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. They review assignments handed in by writers or reporters for sense, accuracy, readability, and content. Assistant editors must also utilize new media applications such as Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to an article or cause.

Sports writer vs assistant editor salary

Sports writers and assistant editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sports WriterAssistant Editor
Average salary$36,041$52,284
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $51,000Between $34,000 And $78,000
Highest paying City-Huntington, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between sports writer and assistant editor education

There are a few differences between a sports writer and an assistant editor in terms of educational background:

Sports WriterAssistant Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorJournalismEnglish
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNorthwestern University

Sports writer vs assistant editor demographics

Here are the differences between sports writers' and assistant editors' demographics:

Sports WriterAssistant Editor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 82.6% Female, 17.4%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 8.8% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between sports writer and assistant editor duties and responsibilities

Sports writer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and encourage the Student/Staff in completion of tasks that are present.
  • Achieve worldwide coverage with one particular article criticizing racism in soccer.
  • Manage athletic contest statistics using various programs including Dakstats and other software.
  • Maintain social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and twitterconduct interviews with sourcesWrote local sports stories and take photographs
  • Produce content for multiple MLB and NFL stand-alone publications and special sections.
  • Assist with writing blogs for former Exitos939.com, tweets, facebook, Instagram posts on a daily/weekly basis.
  • Show more

Assistant editor example responsibilities.

  • Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
  • Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
  • Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
  • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
  • Ensure compliance with PRC and FDA guidelines.
  • Increase social media presence and traffic through Facebook and Instagram.
  • Show more

Sports writer vs assistant editor skills

Common sports writer skills
  • SEO, 9%
  • Game Coverage, 9%
  • Feature Stories, 7%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Soccer, 5%
  • News Stories, 4%
Common assistant editor skills
  • Editorial Content, 9%
  • Video Footage, 8%
  • Web Content, 5%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • Production Process, 4%
  • Twitter, 3%

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