Sport industry Roles – Media
The media plays a key role in promoting the sports industry to its audiences. Media channels include on-line and off-line; TV, radio, print and social media.
Here are just some examples of roles that fall within this category. Click on each job title to find out more about roles and responsibilities, and necessary skills required:
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A Press Officer/Communications Manager is often the point of contact within a sports organisation who liaises directly with the media. They have responsibility of producing press releases, content for the website and social media channels and for holding press conferences.
Roles and responsibilities may include:
- Responding to enquiries from journalists and requests for interview
- Preparing and editing press releases and media articles
- Producing website content
- Generating social media posts
- Developing media briefs for spokespeople
- Monitoring and recording media coverage
- Coordinating media campaigns, press conferences and interviews
Necessary skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
- Attention to detail
- Understanding of key audiences
- Confidence and resilience
- Ability to meet tight deadlines
- Skills to cope under pressure
- Strong organisational skills
- Problem solving skills
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A Social Media Manager leads the social media content published across an organisation’s platforms, by developing and implementing social media strategies. They will interpret engagement data and audience interactions to best equip their planning for campaigns and future content, whilst building an online community.
Roles and responsibilities
- Undertake audience research
- Design and deliver interactive and engaging content; including multimedia visuals, competitions, discussions and debates
- Manage content across website and social media channels
- Coordinate and implement social media campaign strategies
- Monitor and report performance and engagement of social media channels
Necessary skills/qualifications
- Strategic design and creativity
- Clear understanding of social media channels and their place in society
- Project and campaign management skills
- Organisational skills with the ability to meet tight deadlines
- Understanding of analytics and interpreting statistics
- Awareness of audiences and current trends with the ability to adapt strategies accordingly
- Attention to detail and strong communication skills
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A sports journalist works within the media industry and covers new stories and events across both professional and amateur sport. They may report for a newspapers, an online platform, a television channel or a radio station. They will write reports, produce articles, conduct interviews and produce features on one or more sports.
Their role may include attending live sports events and providing real-time coverage of action.
Roles and responsibilities
- Produce reports on sports events, sports action
- Conduct interviews with athletes, managers, executives of sports organisations
- Write articles and features on sports-related topics, teams or players for a specific media channel or various channels if freelance
- Researching sports topics, statistics and background information to add depth to news stories and articles
- Editing and proofreading articles and news releases
Necessary skills/qualifications
- Working to tight deadlines of release
- Ability to keep abreast of latest events, incidents and activities in the sports industry
- Strong written and communication skills
- An invested interest in sport
- Accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation
- Understanding of audience appetite
- Good research skills
- Creative and adaptable
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A sports broadcaster provides insightful coverage of the action at sporting events and of action for their audience. This could be through television, radio or online media.
This could include live commentary, exclusive interviews, latest news or post event reports.
Roles and responsibilities
- Research statistics, teams and athletes
- Provide a description of the action to the audience
- Conduct interviews with those associated with the sport(s)
- Present on topics and trends affecting the sport(s)
- Public speaking at sports events
- Eloquently read from a notes, a script or an auto-cue
Necessary skills/qualifications
- Strong presentation and communication skills
- Ability to speak clearly, with good pronunciation
- Good research and analysis techniques
- Effective writing skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills to hold interviews
- Strength in decision making and resilience
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A sports photographer is tasked with taking images at live sports event, to capture the moments as they happen. The images may be used by media channels, sports organisations, stock agents, online or to sell to fans and customers.
Roles and responsibilities
- Research and plan best positioning for sporting event
- Strategize the images to capture at the event, in accordance with client were appropriate
- Organise lighting and techniques to capture the best images
- Utilise technology and software to edit and enhance images
- Liaise with clients and agencies to ensure understanding of the brief at hand
Necessary skills/qualifications
- Technical knowledge of photography equipment
- Understanding of effective image enhancing lighting
- Photo editing and enhancing skills
- Creativity and attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills for relationship management
- Ability to work on their own and as part of a team
Ready for a career in the sports media industry? Sign up to our Sport in the Media Masterclass.
This masterclass offers unrivalled insight and access to experienced media professionals from the world of sport and beyond. Through an immersive learning experience, participants will acquire a deeper practical knowledge of the intersection between sport and media.
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