Being a sports presenter can be a challenge because the world is quite competitive and difficult to penetrate. Only the right education and work experience can lead you to success in this world, but with enough determination, you can land this highly rewarding job both personally and financially.
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Method 1 of 3: Education
Step 1. Do some research on this world
Before you take any formal education, try to do enough research to find out what you can expect from this career field. Check what responsibilities are required of this job, what the work environment is like, what the usual salary is, and an outline of the job.
- Most sports presenters are game hosts, television presenters, or sports news anchors. Your duties may include announcing matches, providing commentary, and interviewing guests.
- You should have a good knowledge of the rules, terms, and history of various sports.
- Most presenters work in radio and television studios. Some of them work in studios, but many also have to travel to the venues. This job can also be done full time or part time.
- Be prepared for long working hours as you have to be present before, during and after the game.
- The median annual salary for presenters in the United States in May 2002 was $28,020, and competition for this profession is expected to continue to be intense through 2022.
Step 2. Start learning as soon as possible
If you read this article in middle or high school, you can start preparing now. Look for extracurricular activities related to computers, public speaking, communication, English and other foreign languages.
You can also begin to familiarize yourself with the terms and history of the sport. You can watch and listen to popular professional sports presenters. Pay attention to their style and abilities, take notes so you can have a document as a reference to develop your own presenter style
Step 3. Earn a bachelor's degree
While this is not a requirement, it is a competitive field and having a Bachelor of Arts degree can increase your chances of getting a job as a sports presenter.
- Take the appropriate course. Journalism, Mass Communication, and Broadcasting are the best choices. If possible, take a major where you can focus on broadcast journalism or sports communications.
- From this course, you can study audio production, mass media, broadcast journalism, media writing, and communications law.
- In addition to the broadcasting skills you can learn from your college degree, you should also study ethics, sports business, sports entertainment, and the social role of athletes.
- Colleges with liberal arts schools can be good choices, but you can also choose a broadcasting school or other specific major because they offer programs that concentrate more on the skills you need.
Method 2 of 3: Experience
Step 1. Find experience through your high school
Just like education, work experience must also be obtained as early as possible. Many high schools have newspapers run by students. Some high schools even have small television programs or morning broadcasts. Try to engage in activities like this as much as possible.
- We recommend that you do this activity from a sporting point of view. Offer to cover a sports match for the school newspaper or you could broadcast sports news on Monday mornings at school.
- If you can't do this activity from a sporting point of view, you should still try to do it. You can learn skills as a reporter or broadcaster.
- You should also look for opportunities at youth sporting events organized by your school or community.
Step 2. Find an on-campus experience
Only certain high schools provide opportunities for their students to become sports broadcasters on TV or radio, but many colleges offer this opportunity.
- Campuses with large communications faculties may have small television and radio studios. If you are part of this faculty, you have a greater chance of working in that studio or station than students from other faculties. But you have to be aware of the competition. You must demonstrate a consistent level of expertise in class if you want your professor or supervisor to recommend you work at this campus station or studio.
- Student newspapers can also be a medium to gain experience.
Step 3. Internship
While still in college, try to find internship opportunities at local television, radio stations or newspapers.
- An experience like this will be more valuable than an internship at a studo campus because you get to see how a professional station operates.
- Find out if your campus or broadcasting school has a department focused on developing the careers of its students. The department may be able to help you find suitable internship opportunities.
- Internships are a great opportunity to start expanding your network. Even if you don't get a lot of broadcast opportunities, you can meet some professionals in the sports entertainment field. Maintain good relations with these people so that you can enter the industry when you graduate.
Step 4. Create your own podcast or blog
In today's Internet era, you can get attention using less common methods. Internships and professional work experience are still more attractive, however, try to add to your experience by running your own sporting event.
- Give the best appearance. If you don't have a good quality microphone but have good site design and writing skills, try creating your own sports blog. If you have a pretty good microphone but can't make your own shows, try creating a podcast that contains only audio. If you have everything you need to create a visually good enough sporting event, give it a try.
- Focus on a sporting event or blog on an aspect of the field that you find particularly interesting. If you're not really interested in being a match commentator, you can comment on some snippets from the match. If you prefer to comment, enter multiple comments.
- Bring your presence in the digital world to the real world. Offer to cover local community sporting events on your blog or podcast, or offer to comment live as the matches take place. Interview some community athletes and those involved in community sports programs.
Step 5. Create a demo
As your experience expands, create a compilation for demos showing your most impressive audio and video clips. These clips should show your best performance when broadcasting sporting events and when broadcasting in general.
- If possible, take this demo tape to an academic advisor or a broadcasting professional you know. Try asking him for honest criticism and suggestions.
- Polish your demo tapes as often as possible. When you think this demo is good, you can start sending it along with your resume as you search for work in this field.
Step 6. Taste all aspects
The rule is to gain as much as 10,000 hours of experience before you can venture out into the real world with your first official assignment. Try to get experience in different aspects so you can know which aspect to focus on.
- Try to be a commentator as well as a sports newsreader and reporter.
- Do work on screen as well as behind the scenes. Try editing and setting the studio lights.
- Work with a wide variety of sports, including everything from men's soccer to women's lacrosse.
Method 3 of 3: Entering the Business World
Step 1. Find a job at a local station
Big national stations won't immediately notice your presence. Therefore, it is recommended that you find work with a smaller local station or studio. Local television news shows and local radio stations covering sports are the best choice for you.
- The station where you do your internship can be a good place to build your career, especially if your boss gives you a good review of your performance.
- Don't be surprised if you don't land an on-screen job right away at your first job or after you graduate from college. If you have enough experience before you graduate, you may be able to land a job that isn't behind the scenes. But usually you have to do some behind-the-scenes work for a few years before you can get a promotion, even at a local station.
Step 2. Expand the network
In the field of sports hosting and broadcasting, who you know is as important as what you know. If you want to land your dream job, you need to get to know the right people in the industry who can guide you to get it.
- The best way to have relationships is to be involved and passionate about any assignment you get in the sports broadcasting field. Do your job well and do it in a way so others can see how enthusiastic you are about moving forward. A positive attitude will catch the attention of your boss more than a lackluster or negative attitude.
- When you've got a relationship, keep in touch with him. His position may not have had much of an impact on your career advancement, but you never know what his position will be five years from now and how he can help you then.
- It's also a good idea to attend conferences and similar events organized for sporting hosts or broadcast professionals.
Step 3. Build your career
Making your way to the top in this industry can take a long time. With talent and determination, you can penetrate this world to the national level, but you must be prepared to work hard without any guarantee of great success.
- You will most likely start your career in a behind-the-scenes position. Prepare to work as a reporter, equipment operator, or assistant producer.
- If your talent catches the eye, you might get a job as a presenter or broadcaster.
- As your work at the smaller stations attracts attention, the larger stations may begin to notice you.
