Sports communication is an ever-growing field, with a variety of job opportunities ranging from marketing and public relations roles to media production and content creation positions. Working in sports communication can be a rewarding and exciting career and can provide access to networks and events that can be hard to break into without the right connections. Those looking to break into the sports communication field can find a variety of opportunities, from traditional office jobs to freelance positions. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the various sport communication jobs available and what to consider when starting your career in the industry. We’ll also provide insight on how to find a job, set yourself up for success, and build a network in the sports communication industry. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of the field and be ready to take the next step in starting your sports communication career.
20 jobs for people with sports communication degrees
Most people with a degree in sports communication work in marketing, advertising, production, or sports entertainment. Here are 20 positions that people with degrees in sports communication can pursue in these related industries:
Sports entertainment
Three communication positions in the sports entertainment industry are listed below:
The main responsibilities of a sports broadcaster are play-by-play commentary and analysis of sporting events and contests. They frequently contribute to radio shows, online media, and television. Sportscasters are frequently former athletes, coaches, or industry professionals. Preparing for in-depth discussions and researching games, players, teams, and statistics are among the main responsibilities of this position. Additionally, they interact with commentators, special guests, and other sports announcers while reading from scripts.
A sports video game designer’s main responsibilities include telling virtual stories. They help create interactive characters and predictive dialogue. Additionally, they work together with teammates to decide the purpose, format, and guidelines for games. A thorough understanding of sports teams, players, and popular culture is required to work as a video game designer for sports-related games. They must also be talented storytellers or technical programmers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary nationwide is $71,290.
Writing radio and television scripts for news personalities, broadcasters, commentators, coaches, and athletes is one of their main responsibilities. Their main responsibilities include keeping to timetables, providing amusing banter or dialogue, and creating scripts intended to elicit particular emotional responses. They frequently follow hurried deadlines and work with the guidance of an editor.
Production
Three communication positions in sports media are listed below:
Directors or producers’ main responsibilities include coordinating the live broadcast of sporting events. They are creative professionals who manage the pre-production, production, and post-production finances, operations, and important decisions for sports programming. They may be responsible for planning advertisements, scheduling entertainment, and assigning tasks.
A videographer’s main responsibilities include filming and recording productions. A sports videographer records sporting events and conducts player interviews. Their main responsibilities involve going to filming locations, keeping up-to-date with professional video equipment, ensuring ideal lighting and filming conditions, and editing footage.
Primary duties: Audio-visual technicians assist videographers in filming and recording. Setting up and evaluating audio and video recording equipment is their responsibility. Coaches, commentators, reporters, and players are given microphones during live games, and audio-visual technicians ensure proper lighting and camera angles to record significant moments and events.
Marketing
Seven sports communication positions in marketing are listed below:
To organize different aspects of sporting events, sports event planners work in coordination with teams, players, facility managers, and municipalities. They strive to ensure efficient operations, player safety, high-quality entertainment, and the best possible revenue generation. Their main responsibilities include communicating with suppliers, managers, and media representatives, designing projects, and following budget guidelines.
Primary responsibilities: A graphic designer is a knowledgeable expert with aptitude in both art and technology. They work to create digital images, video elements, and motion graphics to visually entice sports fans and viewers. They produce visual graphics for sports teams and organizations.
Maintaining connections between sports teams, managers, athletes, and media outlets is the main responsibility of public relations professionals in the industry. Their responsibilities frequently include organizing conferences, supervising or screening interview requests, helping athletes, coaches, and athletic managers, and fostering a positive public image. They converse with journalists, broadcasters, and other media professionals.
Advertising managers’ main responsibilities include developing marketing campaigns to raise awareness of brands, publicize events, and increase sales. They are employed by professional teams, collegiate teams, sports franchises, and sports leagues. Their responsibilities at work include working with other marketing experts, setting up focus groups, designing and reviewing advertising collateral, and coming up with innovative campaign ideas.
Primary responsibilities: Brand management in sports is concerned with building personal or professional brands for sports teams, athletes, coaches, universities, and other organizations with a connection to sports. To create the best possible brand visibility, they design social media campaigns, advertisements, and other creative initiatives. They must have a thorough understanding of both sports and sports culture as well as the desires and needs of fans and viewers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary nationwide is $85,250.
Sports promoters are marketing experts whose main responsibilities are organizing and planning various aspects of sporting events, such as attendance, financial forecasts, vendor niche markets, and venue logistics. Promoters frequently create marketing strategies and work with other marketing experts to create marketing objectives and campaign initiatives.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary nationwide is $102,300.
A sports agent’s main responsibilities are to represent athletes and work in their best interests. They strive to negotiate contracts, cultivate relationships with sponsors, and improve athletes’ public perception. Additionally, sports agents frequently assist players with managing their finances and setting up a financial plan for retirement or other investments.
Sports writing
Four communication positions in sports writing are listed below:
The main responsibilities of a sports blogger are writing for a website or publication. They write about sports teams, events, and athletes in articles, informational pieces, and opinion pieces. Sports bloggers occasionally work alone or as independent contractors, while other times they are employed by teams or on a contract basis.
Primary Duties: Sports editors are skilled linguists and writers. For sports-related content and applications, they work to ensure the factual and grammatical accuracy of articles, news blurbs, headlines, and social media content. Sports editors typically report to an editor-in-chief, and their responsibilities frequently include interacting with writers and evaluating written content.
Sports writers are journalists whose main responsibilities are to gather information about sports and speak with sports experts. They conduct interviews, gather information, check facts, write, edit, and adhere to strict deadlines as part of their job preparation for news articles.
Sports teams’ social media managers’ main responsibilities are to oversee their online presence. They are professionals in marketing and advertising who make sure that the copy and content for social media platforms are consistent with overarching brand designs and plans. Their responsibilities include creating online and copy, editing images, and developing campaigns.
Internal communications
Three sports-related positions to think about for internal communications are listed below:
Primary Duties: Internal communication specialists are writers and skilled communicators. They create the copy and content for employee newsletters, emails, and bulletins. Additionally, they are in charge of creating and posting company content on internal homepages, outside websites, and social media platforms. Their primary function is to communicate information to employees.
Primary Duties: Statisticians are mathematicians who gather data and statistics. A sports statistician studies professional sporting events and compiles and examines information about athletes, teams, and other aspects of sports. To ensure that fans and viewers are given high-quality information, they provide information to scriptwriters, broadcasters, and producers.
UX designers are experts who work to enhance the user experience that people have when utilizing electronic web-based or cloud-based systems, products, or services. UX designers in the field of sports communication make sure that the electronic services and computer software applications used by producers, technicians, writers, and other sports entertainment professionals are user-friendly and intuitive.
What is sports communication?
Sports communication is a common major for undergraduate students. It includes instruction in sports entertainment, video production, broadcast journalism, and the business of sports. Your program of study may also include courses in reporting, marketing, advertising, event planning, and promotion, depending on the university or program you choose. After graduating, those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in sports communication can work in a wide range of industries.
4 tips for preparing for a sports career
Here are four suggestions for getting ready for a career in sports:
Apply for an internship
An internship is a paid or unpaid learning work experience. They typically last between two months in one year. If you want to gain more experience, you can apply for a sports-related internship while you are still in school. Your experience, professional network, employable skills, and trainability all play a significant role in launching a career in sports communications. All of these critical career-related skills can be strengthened with an internship.
Update your social media profiles
In some cases, jobs in sports communication call for candidates to have customer-facing or public-facing personas. Due to this, employers evaluate a candidate’s social media presence to ascertain whether they are a good fit for the position or business. Your career outcomes may be improved by updating your social media profiles to reflect your abilities, interests, and knowledge of sports and sports communication—and by making sure that your posts and content are appropriate for the workplace.
Study various sports leagues
A passion for and in-depth familiarity with sports are prerequisites for positions in sports communications. It’s likely that if you’re applying for a position like this, you already have a thorough understanding of at least one sports team or sports league. However, it’s crucial to brush up on a variety of sporting teams and types as many jobs in this industry call for knowledge of information and statistics pertaining to numerous sports, leagues, and team types.
Consider attending a certificate program
An educational program that results in a specific accreditation or certification is known as a certificate program. Certificates in sports-related business, communications, and marketing are available through workshops, seminars, graduate-level programs, and continuing education courses. When you apply for a new job or role, having completed a workshop or program and receiving a certificate demonstrates your commitment to learning and development.
Sports Career Options: Finding Your Sports Industry Fit
FAQ
Can you work in sports with a communications degree?
Students who major in sports communication are better prepared for jobs as sports reporters, announcers, and public relations experts for teams or athletes.
What do you do in sports communications?
Their responsibilities frequently include organizing conferences, supervising or screening interview requests, helping athletes, coaches, and athletic managers, and fostering a positive public image. They converse with journalists, broadcasters, and other media professionals.
How do I get a job in sports media?
Earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or English to work in sports media or sports journalism. Pick a program that has a sizable alumni network in the sports industry or is connected to professionals in the field; this could lead to job opportunities once you complete your degree.
What is the highest paid job in sports?
- Sports Promotor.
- Sports Marketing Manager.
- Athletic Trainer.
- Kinesiotherapist.
- Athletic Director.
