If you are a keen writer and want to incorporate this into your career, then journalism might be a good option for you. But what about if you have other interests too, such as the world of sports? The great news for sports enthusiasts is that you can specialise in sports journalism. In doing so, you can live and breathe sports, even if you don’t necessarily want to play a sport professionally.

How to get into sports journalism

You cannot usually just walk into a job in journalism. You must first study, train and complete an internship until you are given free rein to write for a paper, website or other publication. The same goes for someone looking to get into sports journalism – you would first be expected to look at sports journalism courses like those listed on the School of Journalism website at https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/journalism-courses/sports.

What does a journalism intern do?

Interns working in the communications industry will usually support senior members. They may do administration, fact-finding, research, looking for sources and images and any other tasks that may help a writer out. Journalists are usually under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines, so an intern will quickly learn what is required in the media industry and will develop their communication skills by being part of a fast-paced team.

What are the specific responsibilities of a sports journalist?

A sports journalist will be hired to oversee the reporting of sports on a specific channel/website or in a magazine/newspaper. They may cover national sporting events or focus on non-televised events, perhaps with regional interest.

What do successful journalists have to say to interns?

Journalists who have worked hard in their field and succeeded in becoming professional writers will tell you to be persistent and not give up. They would say to expect many knock-downs but to keep coming back fighting, much like a sports person would do. Stay knowledgeable and never stop building up your skill set.

If you are passionate and enthusiastic about your work, you’ll soon get work.