The sports industry and media have always been and will always be closely intertwined. Considering the rapid pace at which the media environment is evolving, the sports media is inevitably experiencing transformation too. In our article we discuss what innovations current sports journalism in the UK implies, and provide some insights into the career prospects that this industry offers in 2024.
The Transformative Journey of the Sports Media Industry over the Past Years
Numerous technological advancements have reshaped how viewers consume sports content. With the rise of social media, digital platforms, and streaming services, traditional print and broadcast journalism has been forced to look for new approaches to survive in the new reality.
Among the challenges, sports journalists now require a range of digital and social media skills to be competitive on the market. On the bright side, new media channels have offered new money-making tools for those who consider exploring sports journalist and commentator jobs. The opportunities include:
- Forging your personal brand through an expert blog. By regularly posting exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes looks on various media platforms, you engage with a wider audience. This brings sponsored content opportunities.
- Creating premium pre-paid content. When you’ve built a strong personal brand and won your audience’s trust, consider integrating exclusive content subscriptions. Those are available on numerous social media platforms.
- Hosting different events. Being invited as a sports journalism expert to participate in webinars, workshops, or podcasts not only contributes to your popularity but is also pretty lucrative.
- Affiliate programmes. Share unique affiliate links on your social media accounts and earn a commission for every sale made through these links.
- Creating your custom merch. If you manage to create a community around your personal brand, your followers will be eager to support you by purchasing your branded items.
Connectivity and community building opportunities that modern media channels provide have also resulted in the rise of niche sports, for instance, canyoning, underwater hockey, or esports. A growing demand for a more diverse range of sports content has provided sports journalists with an opportunity to realise their potential without the need to struggle with fierce competition in traditional disciplines like football, basketball, or tennis.
Sports Journalist and Commentator Jobs Currently Available in the UK
Broadcast Journalist
Broadcast journalist’s day-to-day work is based on researching, preparing, and presenting sports news on one of various media channels, including TV, radio, or internet platforms. A good start for this career could secure volunteering in some specific UK organisations, like Community Media Association, Channel 4, or BBC, or applying for such entry-level roles as a production assistant or media researcher.
Digital Production Journalist
The key responsibilities of a digital production journalist include optimising and publishing sports content across various digital platforms. This role requires proficiency in SEO, visual storytelling, and, of course, excellent writing skills. Their main mission is to make the most of various multimedia assets to keep their audience engaged.
Social Media Manager for Sports Teams
It’s not only about content creation. It’s about understanding the unique needs of specific teams and their fans and creating engaging content based on this knowledge. Social media managers regularly do a lot of research and analysis to develop effective social media marketing strategies particularly for the team they work with. Since the digital landscape is highly dynamic, staying updated with new trends and best practices is one of their key responsibilities.
Sports Podcast Producer
This role typically involves overseeing the production process of a podcast show, from pre-production to distribution. The list of responsibilities of a podcast producer is truly diverse (and long), including developing editorial calendars and schedules, editing cuts, mixing music, arranging interviews and managing recording sessions, researching and producing episode ideas, and working with cross-functional teams to find opportunities to expand the shows’ reach.
Esports Journalist
The pace at which the esports industry and its fan community are growing is impressive. As a result, there is a high demand for people who will satisfy the content hunger of esports fans across the globe. The specifics of work are similar to those of a sports journalist: gather and analyse information, create content, and publish it on a wide variety of mediums. It could be a great option for those who have already acquired some sports journalism experience and want to try themselves out in a trendy and highly progressive field.
Comments