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After earning a college degree, what is the next step for sports journalism?

Is it ideal to seek out internships, or should I let opportunities find me? Is it best to try to get a deal with a news source and pump out work? Or do I shadow experienced sportswriters and hone my skills? The world after college feels so broad, so I would appreciate advice on how to find guidance.

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Jing’s Answer

Hi Justin,

Thank you for your questions, here are some tips for starting a sports journalism career.

1. Rather than waiting passively, please pursue internship proactively. Actually sport media industry is highly competitive so please don't rely on opportunities to come to you. You can reach out to local newspapers, sports digital outlets, event organizations and sports-focused platform for internship roles. Internships can help you master real-world workflows including match reporting, interviewing and feature writing, while building a portfolio of published work for future job applications.

2. Yes, pitch to news sources and build your body of work consistently. While interning, it's best to take the initiative to cooperate with sports news outlets as freelance or contributing writer, covering game previews, post-match analysis, athlete profiles and sports commentary. Regular output hones your writing efficiency, earns your bylines and raises your professional visibility in this industry.

3. Yes, shadow experienced sportswriters to refine your core skills, shadowing is extremely valuable for new entrants. Learn professional storytelling styles, data interpretation and feature-writing skills to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world journalistic standards

After college, other than above, you can network with industry professionals during internships and build your personal brand to get continuous career guidance.

Best wishes to you. Good luck.
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Veronica’s Answer

Hi Justin,

Congratulations on earning your college degree!

As a young and energetic sports enthusiast, why not explore internships, part-time or freelance work, and shadow experienced sportswriters? I'm sure you'll build a great foundation of opportunities, gain valuable knowledge, and find mentors to guide your future path.

Good luck!
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Laura’s Answer

Hi Jing! After earning a college degree, the next step for sports journalism is to gain practical experience through internships or entry-level positions at media outlets, sports websites, or local news stations. Building a strong portfolio of writing, reporting, or multimedia work is essential, along with networking with professionals in the field.
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Claudio’s Answer

Journalism, in general, is one of the most AI-disrupted professions out there; finding an entry level job in sports journalism will be very challenging. If you wish to build a career in sports journalism, my recommendation would be to begin to hyper-specialize...find a niche that has little content out there and little expertise and focus on building that expertise for that specific sport or branch of sport. The more common and popular a sport, the more content will exist and thus the less need for human generated journalism. Stick with what's not going to be replaced by AI (or at least "less" replaced).
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TRAVIS’s Answer

Do it all. Internships, radio, tv, internet. Actively seek out a mentor. Do not be passive. Be aggressive and stay busy. Freelance, do whatever to build experience and stay active.
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June’s Answer

Congratulations on earning your degree! My biggest piece of advice would be not to wait for opportunities to find you. Sports journalism is one of those careers where your portfolio and relationships often matter just as much as your diploma. If you can, pursue internships, freelance for local newspapers or sports websites, cover high school or college games, and consistently publish your work. Every article, interview, or multimedia piece adds to your experience.

At the same time, seek out mentors. Shadowing experienced sportswriters, asking for feedback on your writing, and learning how they report stories can help you improve much faster than working alone. Networking is also incredibly important—attend sporting events, journalism conferences, and connect with editors and reporters on professional platforms.
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