Post job

Sports writer vs news editor

The differences between sports writers and news 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 a news editor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a news editor has an average salary of $53,822, 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 a news editor are news stories, news coverage, and instagram.

Sports writer vs news editor overview

Sports WriterNews Editor
Yearly salary$36,041$53,822
Hourly rate$17.33$25.88
Growth rate-10%-5%
Number of jobs16,98112,484
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 a news editor do?

A News Editor reviews and changes the content of a publication provided by writers and other contributors. They generally work for newspapers, magazines, and websites.

Sports writer vs news editor salary

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

Sports WriterNews Editor
Average salary$36,041$53,822
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $51,000Between $35,000 And $81,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between sports writer and news editor education

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

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

Sports writer vs news editor demographics

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

Sports WriterNews Editor
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 82.6% Female, 17.4%Male, 53.5% Female, 46.5%
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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between sports writer and news 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

News editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage the day-to-day production of the Olympics section as needed.
  • Manage online web CMS, updating metadata, optimizing SEO, editing HTML/CSS, and directing UX/UI updates.
  • Manage content on various CMS systems, including HTML coding and training numerous staff members on various CMS systems.
  • Maintain editorial calendar, manage freelance budget and coordinate with photo editor and designers to help ensure optimal presentation of stories.
  • Cover NFL playoffs and NCAA tournament games.
  • Cover UConn s 2014 NCAA tournament championship run on site.
  • Show more

Sports writer vs news editor skills

Common sports writer skills
  • SEO, 9%
  • Game Coverage, 9%
  • Feature Stories, 7%
  • Twitter, 5%
  • Soccer, 5%
  • News Stories, 4%
Common news editor skills
  • News Stories, 10%
  • News Coverage, 8%
  • Instagram, 8%
  • Twitter, 7%
  • SEO, 7%
  • Facebook, 7%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs