Recent Grad

I am finishing up my master's in sport management at East Carolina University. I was wondering if anyone had tips to help break into the industry. I always hear experience, but even when I apply for entry level positions I get rejected, what's the deal? Any tips?

 

If you're looking to break into sports management, this is the wrong web site.

If you're looking to break into sports reporting, please click this link from our Journalism Topics Only forum: Questions for a journalist.

 

I was referring to sports writing - sorry for the confusion. Thanks!

 

Did you write for your school paper?

 

The correct answer is RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! HEAD FOR THE HILLS! DON'T LOOK BACK! RUN DAMMIT RUN!!!

 

Yeah. Don't bother unless you like hypertension and food stamps.

I'd suggest going into the elder care field. It's going to be a huge industry in 5-10 years.

 

Do what the rest of us under-25 sports reporters do: Build up experience in any way possible, eat Ramen, get another job where you can actually make some money, drink cheap beer, apply at all kind of jobs, get over rejection quickly, complain a lot and try to enjoy what you're doing at least once a week.

So far that's kept me sane.

 

I'm not telling you to run for the hills, but why do you want to go into writing and not sports management if you went to school for six years to pursue that type of career?

My tips, though. Get on as a stringer for the local paper covering any sport they'll give you. Write a few features, preview, season wraps and gamers, and you should be able to get a job at some of the weekly papers that post openings on state newspaper association Web sites.

Expect to be paid about $20k/year for your experience. From a small paper, you can move up every few years, but don't count on it either.

 

Run away, quick. A master's in sports management can enable you to do so many other things other than reporting.

 

amen brother

 

Most people get the master's as a way to get OUT of this business. You're doing it wrong.