Sportswriters

High School

Classes in English, journalism, and speech are most important for honing writing skills. Speech classes are helpful for interacting with others. Be sure to take physical education classes and participate in organized sports, whether as competitor, team manager, or assistant. Also join the school paper or yearbook staff as this gives opportunities to cover and write about school sports teams or other school activities.

Postsecondary Training

Sportswriters need at least a bachelor's degree, although many go on to study journalism at the graduate level. Most sportswriters concentrate on journalism while in college, either by attending a program in journalism or by taking whatever courses are available outside of a specialized program. It's possible to become a sportswriter without a degree in journalism, but having a degree helps because competition for sportswriting jobs is incredibly fierce. Sportswriters with a specialized degree have improved job prospects. Some may have degrees in communications or English, among other majors.

Learning HTML, a Web site authoring language, can also be helpful to sportswriters who write for the Web, and this skill may qualify you for other writing opportunities. All writers should learn the most popular software programs and office tools that relate to their specialty. Social media savvy is also required for many sportswriting jobs.

Other Education or Training

A variety of webinars, conference seminars, digital journalism training sessions, and other continuing education opportunities are offered by various professional associations such as the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Associated Press Sports Editors, Association for Women in Sports Media, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and the Society of Professional Journalists. Topics include writing, editing, interviewing, social media, and technology.