Becoming a sports commentator is a real challenge: it is a rather competitive sector and it is difficult to access it. Only by training in the right way and starting to accumulate experience since high school and college can you have the hope of finding success. To all this must be added the determination, which is essential to be hired in a job that satisfies you personally and financially.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Training
Step 1. Research the industry
Before choosing an education path, educate yourself enough to know what to expect from this professional field. Ask about the jobs expected of you, the work environment, salary, and career opportunities.
- Most sports reporters comment on matches, present talk shows, or other programs. You could comment on live matches or summarize them, or do interviews.
- You must have a thorough understanding of the rules, terminology and history of various sports.
- Most sports commentators work on radio or television. Some work in a television studio or newsroom, but many have to travel to get to the places where matches are held. You may also decide whether to become a part-time sports commentator or to work independently.
- Remember that your days will often be exhausting, as you will find yourself working before, during and after games.
- The salary you will receive will depend on your experience and where you will work; some sports reporters can make a lot of money, but you'll have to get a lot of ground. By the way, keep in mind that this is a very competitive sector, so you will have to give your all to get noticed.
Step 2. Start training as soon as possible
If you are in middle school or high school, you can start doing it right now. Look for extracurricular courses that familiarize you with computer science, speaking, communication, English, and at least one other foreign language.
On an informal level, start learning about the terminology and history of sports. You should also observe and listen to the most famous and professional sports journalists. Take note of their style and skills; mark the one that will come in handy, so you will have a point of reference in the development of your journalistic style
Step 3. Graduates
While it is not strictly necessary, remember that it is still a particularly competitive field, and having a degree in the field of communication will greatly improve your chances of finding a job.
- Try to follow a course of study that teaches you something concrete. You can graduate in Communication Sciences, but then you should do a Masters in Journalism or in Media and Communication. However, there are also real masters in Sports Journalism.
- By enrolling in a specialized course, you will be able to learn more about television production, mass media, radio and television journalism, the press and the legal aspects of this sector.
- In addition to gaining journalistic skills, at university you will also have to study sports ethics, sports business, sports entertainment and the social role played by athletes.
- Going to university is ideal to get you on the right track, but you can also opt for a technical school, specializing in mass communication, the important thing is to choose a program that allows you to acquire the skills you need.
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Experience
Step 1. Get experience from high school
Just as you should start training as soon as possible, you should also start working as soon as you have the opportunity. Some high schools circulate student-written newspapers, others (rarer) even have small TV or radio programs. Whatever the educational offer of your institution, take advantage of these activities.
- In theory, you should approach these experiences from a sporting point of view. Propose to talk about the games in the school newspaper, to have a small program dedicated to sports or to comment on the matches in your city; in short, find out about the opportunities you have.
- If you are unable to participate by offering a sporting point of view, you should still intervene. The skills you acquire as a reporter or presenter will benefit you in any case.
- You should also look for opportunities to take action: find out about youth sporting events, whether they are held in your school or community.
Step 2. Get university experience
If at school you don't have many opportunities to do television or radio commentary, by enrolling in the right university you will have the opportunity.
- Choose a university that has equipment to dwarf a radio station or TV studio. If you don't have many options in the place where you live, you can always have an experience in another city or abroad. By taking advantage of these tools, you will learn a lot right away and have a better chance of finding work. Either way, remember that there will be no shortage of competition. You will have to demonstrate excellent skills even in class; only in this way the professors and assistants will give you good recommendations to start making your bones from when you are a simple student.
- Papers written and distributed by students are another great way to gain experience.
Step 3. Do an internship
While still attending college or technical school, find out about internships offered by local television studios, radio stations, and newspapers.
- This type of experience can be even more valuable than one done in a university studio, because you will be able to see how a real station works.
- Find out if your university or school has a department that offers career guidance services to students. It may help you find a suitable internship for you.
- Internships are also a good opportunity to start networking. While failing to present almost anything, you will meet several professionals in the sports entertainment industry. Having a good relationship with these people can help you get noticed in the industry after graduation.
Step 4. Publish podcasts or run your own blog
We now live in an era where the internet reigns supreme, and you can get noticed using less traditional methods. Internships and work experiences are still preferable and should be tried, if possible. But if you have enough time and perseverance, try supplementing the internships by presenting programs and writing your own articles.
- Try to offer the best possible quality. If you don't have a good microphone but are more or less good at creating websites and what you write leaves everyone speechless, start a blog dedicated to sports. If you have a good quality microphone but can't set up a proper studio, create audio-only podcasts. On the other hand, if you have the adequate resources to make a small, modest but well-maintained program, don't miss this possibility. You can show it to people you know or broadcast it through YouTube.
- Focus your program or blog on the aspect of this industry that interests you most. If you dream of becoming a commentator, do the summary of the matches. You can also express your views through blog posts.
- Take your virtual presence and bring it to the real world. Offer to cover local sporting events in articles or videos posted on the blog, or you could even comment when you can. Interview athletes from your city and beyond.
Step 5. Create a demo
As you gain more and more experience, make a demo with your most interesting audio tracks and videos. These clips should showcase your best work in the sports entertainment industry and beyond.
- If you can, take the demo to an academic advisor or industry professional who is already part of your network. Ask him for an honest opinion.
- Refine the demo as much as possible. Once you think it's presentable, you can start sending it, accompanying it with your resume, so you can apply for the jobs that interest you most.
Step 6. Do a little bit of everything
In general, you should work your way up to about 10,000 hours before you can set foot in the real world and start working officially. Cut your teeth in several ways, so you can be sure of the niche that's right for you.
- Make attempts as a commentator, presenter and reporter.
- Work both in front of the screen and behind the screen. Learn to edit and arrange the lights.
- Work with different sports, ranging from men's American football to women's lacrosse.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Joining the Giro
Step 1. Start at a local network or radio
The big national stations won't notice you right away. It's best to start small, at a local radio, channel, or newspaper. Local television and radio programs that also cover sports are usually the best options.
- A good place to start can be a station where you've done an internship, especially if your supervisors have been impressed with you.
- Don't be surprised if once you're hired for the first time or right after graduation, you don't become the face of a program. If you have had enough experience before finishing your studies, you could start working directly in front of the cameras. In most cases though, you'll have to watch from behind the scenes for a few years before you can advance, even in a small station.
Step 2. Network
In the field of sports journalism, whatever it is, the people you know are just as important as what you can do. If you want to do the job of your dreams, you will need to have contacts in the industry - you will be helped to lead the way.
- The best way to have more and more contacts is simply to get involved and show enthusiasm in the face of all the job opportunities that present themselves to you in the field of sports entertainment. Having a positive attitude will attract the attention of your superiors, while if you behave like a curmudgeon or in a listless way they will avoid you.
- Once you've made a contact, cultivate it. Maybe this person's work doesn't make them particularly "useful" for a career, but you don't know where they could be in five years and how they could help you at that point.
- You should also attend conferences and similar events aimed at sports journalists, whether they work in radio, television or the press.
Step 3. Work your way
You will have to work hard to make a career in this industry. With the right amount of talent and consistency, you can walk the right path to become nationally famous, but you have to prepare to work hard, without having the guarantee that one day you will break through.
- You will probably start your career starting from the bottom, you will hardly appear on television in the early days. You could work as a reporter, operator or production assistant.
- If your talent gets noticed, they may offer you a job as a TV presenter or commentator.
- Once the work done at the smaller stations is noticed, your reputation will work its way up to the larger ones as well.
