Sports Journalist Legal, Social & Cultural Professionals
SaveWhat Does a Sports Journalist Do?
Sports journalists research and write articles about sport events and athletes for newspapers, magazines, television and other media. They conduct interviews and attend events.
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Where Do I Start?
Interview Techniques
The techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Sports Journalist
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialInterview Techniques knowledge
The techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialGrammar knowledge
The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialCopyright Legislation knowledge
Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSporting Events knowledge
Possess an understanding of different sporting events and conditions that can affect a result.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSports Competition Information knowledge
The information regarding latest results, competitions and events in the sporting industry.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialEditorial Standards knowledge
The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSpelling knowledge
The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSport Games Rules knowledge
The rules and regulations of sport games such as football, soccer, tennis, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWriting Techniques knowledge
The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialApply Grammar And Spelling Rules skill
Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialBuild Contacts To Maintain News Flow skill
Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConsult Information Sources skill
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDevelop Professional Network skill
Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEvaluate Writings In Response To Feedback skill
Edit and adapt work in response to comments from peers and publishers.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFollow Ethical Code Of Conduct Of Journalists skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialFollow The News skill
Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialInterview People skill
Interview people in a range of different circumstances.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialParticipate In Editorial Meetings skill
Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialStay Up To Date With Social Media skill
Keep up with the trends and people on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialStudy Topics skill
Carry out effective research on relevant topics to be able to produce summary information appropriate to different audiences. The research may involve looking at books, journals, the internet, and/or verbal …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Specific Writing Techniques skill
Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWrite To A Deadline skill
Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 31 displayed)
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OptionalDesktop Publishing knowledge
The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalAudio Editing Software knowledge
The various software for editing and generating audio, such as Adobe Audition, Soundforge, and Power Sound Editor.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalMultimedia Systems knowledge
The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPress Law knowledge
The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalPronunciation Techniques knowledge
The pronunciation techniques to properly and understandably pronounce words.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalIct Software Specifications knowledge
The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalSport History knowledge
The background history of players and athletes and the history of sport events and games.
Recommended Books
3 books -
OptionalAdapt To Changing Situations skill
Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people's needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAdapt To Type Of Media skill
Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Desktop Publishing Techniques skill
Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCheck Correctness Of Information skill
Check if the information contains factual errors, is reliable, and has news value.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCommunicate By Telephone skill
Liaise via telephone by making and answering calls in a timely, professional and polite manner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate Online News Content skill
Create and upload news content for e.g. websites, blogs and social media.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDocument Interviews skill
Record, write, and capture answers and information collected during interviews for processing and analysis using shorthand or technical equipment.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEdit Digital Moving Images skill
Use specialised software to edit video images for use in an artistic production.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEdit Negatives skill
Use different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEdit Photographs skill
Resize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEdit Recorded Sound skill
Edit audio footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as crossfading, speed effects, and removing unwanted noises.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Personal Finances skill
Identify personal financial objectives and set up a strategy to match this target in seeking support and advice when necessary.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Writing Administration skill
Manage the financial and administrative side of writing including making up budgets, maintaining financial records, checking contracts, etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Image Editing skill
Edit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Video Editing skill
Rearrange and edit video footage in the course of the post-production process. Edit the footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as colour correction and effects, speed …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPresent During Live Broadcasts skill
Present live on political, economic, cultural, social, international or sport events, or host a live broadcast program.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPromote Your Writings skill
Talk about your work at events and conduct readings, speeches and book signings; establish a network among fellow writers.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProofread Text skill
Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProvide Written Content skill
Communicate information in written form via digital or print media according to the needs of the target group. Structure the content according to specifications and standards. Apply grammar and spelling …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRewrite Articles skill
Rewrite articles to correct errors, make them more appealing to the audience, and to ensure that they fit within time and space allotments.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWrite Captions skill
Write captions to accompany cartoons, drawings, and photographs. These captions can be humorous or explanatory.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalWrite Headlines skill
Write titles to accompany news articles. Make sure they are to the point and inviting.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAsk Questions At Events skill
Attend a variety of events, such as council meetings, magistrates' court proceedings, football matches, talent contests, press conferences and ask questions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFollow Directions Of On-Site Director skill
Follow the instructions of the director when covering events on location.
Course recommendations coming soon.