This story is from May 20, 2019

Sports journalism courses, skills required, career scope

Sports journalism deals with the coverage of sports events and personalities across the globe. Sports has always been an important section in the newspapers, magazines, television and on the radio. Over time, the coverage of sports news has grown in importance.
Sports journalism courses, skills required, career scope
Sports journalism deals with the coverage of sports events and personalities across the globe. Sports has always been an important section in the newspapers, magazines, television and on the radio. Over time, the coverage of sports news has grown in importance.
As a sports reporter, you have to report about sports games, events, venues and competitions.
The sports audiences are keen to know about not only the events unfolding on the field but also behind the scenes and personal lives of the sportspersons.
Your responsibilities as sports journalists are to verify the facts given to you and find the truth behind the rumours about the players, athletes, sports commentators and organizations. At the same time, you have to uphold the same professional and ethical standards and take care not to show bias for any team or player.

Sports journalism is a highly specialized field and requires specialist knowledge. There are lots to write about and to cover both national and international level tournaments. For instance, cricket, because of its huge popularity in India, has regularly attracted more space and importance in media as compared to any other sport.
Skills & qualities of a sports journalist
To be a sports journalist, you need to have the skills listed below:

  • Keen interest in playing or watching sports
  • Great observation skill
  • An eye for accuracy
  • Patience and tact
  • Resourcefulness
  • Willingness to frequent travel and irregular working hours
  • Capability to work under pressure
  • Curiosity
  • Ability to put people at ease
  • Power of self-expression
  • Strong word processing
  • Research skills
  • Strong communication skills both spoken and written

Media Studies: Admission Process
You can pursue a bachelor's degree in any discipline, preferably Bachelor of Physical Education, followed by a PG Diploma in Sports Journalism or a postgraduate degree/ diploma in physical education of at least one-year duration. For more details on Bachelor's of Arts & Journalism, or Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, you can check this link - Times School of Media BAJMC and PGD in Mass Communication
Career Prospects
As a sports journalist, you could be working in a newspaper or a magazine, on television, the internet, sports management or a public relations consultancy. You can also get involved in writing, producing popular books on a range of sporting topics, including biographies, history, and investigations.
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