Sports Journalist

Hi

My husband has no academic qualifications but would love to become a sports journalist, I'm just wondering if anyone could give us guidance on how he could get into this career, is a degree essential - going back to college full time would not be an option for him.

Thanks in advance

Is he currently involved in any sports or organisations? Is he involved in a local supporter's group? Is he on the board or committe of any sports groups in your area?

If he wants to get into say, radio sports journalism, I'd recommend he approaches a local station to offer to file some reports on local matches, (free of charge even initially) sports events etc. based on his connections and/or knowledge of certain sports.

Many local stations love to have input from people who have good access to knowledge/connections within the local sporting scene. I'm rushing out the door ATM but PM me if you like and I'll try to give you some tips.

I agree with snuffle, I know of some cases where people have done match reports etc and sent them in and have eventually progressed. Experience is preferred in this field rather than qualifications at local level anyways so just keep plugging away.

The Independent College (owned by the Irish Independent) offer a sports journalism course:

Searching on Dole.ie there are no vacancies for Sports Journalist or Sports Journalism, so getting a job in this area might be tricky enough!

Jobs for sports journo/photographer etc are rarely advertised as the places that hire are flooded with CV's the whole time. I used to work in that area. As someone pointed out, experience is more essential than a degree (and who you know is very helpful too), but you still have to know how to write. Expect to start at the bottom and work up from there....no fast route to covering Premiership, F1, Olympics that sort of thing. You can forget about your weekends too if you cover sports, that's when most of them take place.

Maybe start up a blog on his preferred sports and start publicising it through appropriate fora. Become "an expert" on a sport or area and make himself a useful interviewee/columnist. This worked for a friend in the UK so might be worth a shot.

shesells said:

Maybe start up a blog on his preferred sports and start publicising it through appropriate fora. Become "an expert" on a sport or area and make himself a useful interviewee/columnist. This worked for a friend in the UK so might be worth a shot.

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This is a good idea.

>Expect to start at the bottom and work up from there....no fast route to covering Premiership, F1, Olympics that sort of thing.

Dion Fanning must be exception that proves this is a rule!

The TV & papers seem to be riddled with people who are related / connected to other TV & papers "personalities".

RF

Flax said:

This is a good idea.

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Why thank you