Steve Lee, veteran Sky Sports and BBC Presenter popped in to Kidderminster College to lead a Q&A session with our Level 2 Sports Students. Steve shared experiences of his extensive broadcast journalism career, including interviewing the great boxer Muhammad Ali and footballing legend David Beckham!
Sports Journalism is not necessary a career you would initially consider when you start a Sports Diploma here at Kidderminster College; but it is one of the many avenues students can take after qualifying.
Sports journalists provide content about sports events and teams for a variety of news platforms, including newspapers, radio and TV shows, magazines, and websites. In general, journalism is a very competitive field. Aspiring sports journalists may have to start out in low-paying, entry-level positions in small markets before moving up the ranks. Once they do, however, they may be able to build a reputation and long-standing career, travel to various sporting events, and even interview athletes.
Key skills for this career include excellent written and verbal communication skills, objectivity for reporting news without bias, persistence for pursuing news stories, basic computer skills including social media and databases, and the ability to work long hours in a fast-paced environment. These skills, as well as experience, weigh heavily on a sports reporter’s earning potential.
Sports journalists typically start out in entry-level positions writing for small publications in small towns or cities. As they gain experience, develop their reporting skills and make names for themselves in the field, they may move on to larger, better-known news organisations.
Sounds like something you’d be interested in? Do you tick all the boxes? Have a chat with our Careers Advisers to see how #TeamKC can help you unlock your potential!
Steve inspired our students with this stories and anecdotes from his expansive career. It goes to show how versatile a Sports qual can be.
“I feel fortunate to have a career which has enabled me to travel and meet the most influential & interesting people” – STEVE LEE
