Trade guide
Sports journalist
The business
What exactly does it mean to be a sports journalist?
Its role
Sports journalists act as intermediaries between events in the sporting environment and the general public. Their aim is to report the facts while maintaining a critical and objective eye.
Equipped with an acute knowledge of the rules and culture of the sporting world, they can cover sports news in general or specialise in a particular branch. It’s a very popular job in the journalism sector, but places are expensive and limited, despite its presence in a wide variety of media including print, internet, television and radio.
Its field of action
Sports journalists work for a wide range of media, in a variety of formats (short reports, filmed or audio reports, live or duplex), reporting facts that they have previously formatted and analysed. Their remuneration depends on the popularity of the medium in which they work and whether their image is exploited through the media in which they work.
Qualifications
What are the qualities of a sports journalist?
As with any job involving writing, sports journalists must have excellent writing skills, a well-developed ability to summarise and a very good sense of analysis.
The urgency of sports topics means that you have to be efficient and prolific. In short, you have to be able to write quickly and well. If they move to the other side of the camera and become presenters (on radio or television), journalists must have flawless diction and a mastery of on-stage codes. They need to be able to react quickly and mediate between speakers.
Like other journalists, they must be able to keep a cool head in all circumstances, as they are subject to last-minute changes and unforeseen events of all kinds. The news cycle is extremely fast, and sports journalists have to know how to act and react accordingly, without ever being thrown off balance.
Finally, whether they are writing for a niche audience or a wide readership, sports journalists need to know their stuff inside out, both in terms of the players and the rules inherent in the sports they cover. Reading other newspapers dealing with the subject is essential to maintain a constant level of knowledge. The target audience is picky, knowledgeable and demanding.
The benefits
How do you become a sports journalist?
There is no specific training required to become a sports journalist. First and foremost, it is essential to acquire a thorough cultural knowledge of sport. In general, it is a passion for the sport that drives young journalists into this niche. In order to meet the ever-increasing demands, it is a good idea to have a technical background in order to make the best use of your skills: editing, filming, recording, etc.
As soon as you pass your A-levels
Once they have passed their baccalauréat, students can enter a school of journalism via a relatively large network of establishments. They can choose several routes, such as entering an IUT via a competitive entrance exam, or embarking on a Licence in information and communication. This is the first step before specialising and joining a journalism school.
After a Bac+2 or Bac+3
After taking a 2 or 3 year course after the baccalauréat, you can go to a journalism school. Admission is by competitive examination and can be prepared over one year, via a preparatory class. While the theoretical preparation is extensive and covers many areas, the preparation for becoming a good journalist does not stop at the school benches. The important thing is to get to grips with the field and learn in a practical context. That’s why it’s important to do work placements as early as possible, so that you can see what’s going on in practice and learn how to behave. Journalists are professionals who work in the field, and it is important that what they learn in theory is quickly put into practice. In the world of sport, the codes are particularly specific and the apprentice journalist needs to grasp and master them.
Remuneration
How much does a sports journalist earn?
Sports journalists’ salaries cover a fairly wide range, as their duties can vary depending on their status and experience. They may be salaried employees of a large company or work on a freelance basis, they may work on a permanent basis or cover events, and their share of expenses may vary enormously. They may be editors-in-chief or freelancers at the start of their career.
A freelancer’s status is relatively precarious and his or her salary is fairly low. We estimate between 60 and 100 euros per sheet. This is the first step before moving up the ladder. A young journalist can start at around 2,000 gross per month. Their pay can rise much higher, depending on their position and level of experience.
Senior journalists, many of whom have salaried status, earn significantly higher salaries. Of course, seniority, specialism, reputation and position in the editorial team all have to be taken into account. It is estimated that a senior journalist can earn between 60,000 and 70,000 euros gross per year. However, this is an average figure, and the job is defined on a case-by-case basis.
Up to
2 000€
Monthly salary
Training courses
Does INSEEC offer training to become a sports journalist?
INSEEC offers a programme providing a panoramic view of the various activities related to sport. The school offers a number of courses of varying length to enable students to specialise in this area of activity, depending on their choice of direction.
The MSc in Sports Marketing programme trains future sports professionals specialising in various areas of the sports industry, journalism, tourism and leisure, to prepare them for the various positions of responsibility at the heart of the sector.
Other degree courses at BAC+3, 4 and 5 levels are also available.
Two start dates are organised during the year, one in February/March and the other in September/October, on a sandwich basis. The pace, organisation of courses and subjects may vary depending on the campus (Bordeaux, Paris, Lyon and Chambéry) and the course chosen. The admissions department can answer all your questions by phone or email.
The first year of Sport and Marketing Strategy offers a range of unique and complementary disciplines to provide you with an essential grounding in the field:
- Strategy for outdoor organisations and businesses
- Outdoor communication strategy
- Consumer Insight fundamentals in sports
- Digital strategy & inbound marketing for outdoor companies
- Customer marketing and the omnichannel customer journey in sport
- Social media and sport
- Sporting event
- Sports Tourism Marketing
The second year consolidates the basic skills taught and places greater emphasis on specialisation:
- Marketing innovation in sport
- Brand strategy & ingredient branding
- Mobile marketing in sport
- Sport and augmented and virtual reality
- Ecodesign and sustainable marketing for outdoor sports
- Product management
- Corporate strategy
- Project management for outdoor events
At the end of this course, students are well equipped to enter the many fields covered by the sporting environment. They are sufficiently prepared to master a number of skills that are essential for these future roles:
- Implementing and steering marketing and management strategy in the sports sector
- Determine the marketing strategy and propose an innovative offering
- Define and implement the business development plan
- Manage and implement communication and digital marketing initiatives
- Managing a marketing and sales team
The benefits
Frequently asked questions: the main questions asked in the field of sport
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