Sports columnists inform readers about sports and can work for various media outlets. A college degree in English literature, American literature, or journalism, along with a sports writing internship, can be helpful. Work hours can be long, and good writing and interpersonal skills are necessary. Capturing the moment and conveying emotion are important skills for a sports columnist.
Sports columnists are professional journalists who inform readers about what is happening in sports. The job may involve focusing on just one sport or focusing on many sports. Sports columnists can be freelance writers or they can write for a local newspaper, website, sports magazine, sports television program or syndicated column. To become a sports columnist, you’ll usually need a college degree and a sports writing internship.
Typically, getting a college degree in English literature, American literature, or journalism is important if you want to become a sports columnist. English Literature, American Literature, or Journalism are intensive writing courses that provide the kind of training you need to become a good columnist. It is true that taking an alternative route, such as majoring in cultural media and sports, can also be done.
In addition to the aforementioned courses, a college sports writing internship can be helpful. Taking an internship can be a positive step for you because the internship will complement your classroom learning and help build your writing portfolio, which you can use to help you apply for a job after college. Your college’s career services department should help you locate and apply for a suitable sports writing internship.
You will likely apply for your first sports-related writing job during your last semester of college. Of course, keep in mind that your first job as a sportswriter may not be what you necessarily expect. For example, you might come across local sports, not know famous athletes, look up player stats or check facts instead of writing when you start work. It may be years before you get the opportunity to have your own sports column.
Work hours for sports columnists can be long. In addition, sports columnists must be skilled at writing, editing, and meeting deadlines. Good interpersonal skills are also helpful, as sports columnists need to interview players, coaches, team owners, and others relevant to the sport.
It is necessary to keep in mind that if you become a sports columnist, your life will be consumed by sport. For example, if you’re covering a professional sports team and that team plays a game on Thanksgiving or Christmas, that means you’ll have to work those holidays. So if you want to become a sports columnist, you need to get comfortable with making those kinds of sacrifices.
In addition, sports columnists must have a talent for capturing the moment. This is a skill that transcends the ability to simply string together coherent sentences for an article. For example, the sports columnist must accurately describe the sporting events taking place, as well as convey the emotion or mood of the sporting event. Being able to write like that isn’t always easy. So a sports columnist must be an extremely talented writer.
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