Soccer writing jobs

[Ruben Rivas]

Hello,

I am a former college soccer player, I work on marketing bc I couldnt get a job coaching or in journalism. I dont even know where to start, I had to pay my bills so I took this job, 5 years from now I want to be coaching or with an sport-journalism job somewhere.

If you know any contact, let me know.

Thanks.

 

[Moderator1]

Ruben, I'm moving this to the journalism board because the job board is something we keep for actual job openings. You can post your contact info in the freelance help available section and maybe someone will give you a shot at some freelance work.

Do you have any journalism background or education? I'll be frank, because it is part of my job as a hiring manager: "an sport-journalism job" is not a good start. It is "a sports journalism job." Details are important. It is a competitive market and many people want the same thing you want. Attention to detail can make the difference.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

Thanks for the attention, English is my second language but I am working to improve everyday, I didn't start speaking English until I was 16 years old.

In college I helped a lot at the tv and radio station, I was part of the newspaper as well, worked and played for the varsity team so I have done it all, my first job was as a ditch washer at a Mexican restaurant, a true underdog here, I was also a finalist for the LA Galaxy (tried out) but soccer didn't work out for me as a player because of injuries.

Here is a video that I did in college with one of my french teammates.



Here is my blog, I always wanted to work as a soccer analyst or as a coach but I haven't had a real shot yet.

http://rubenrivasla.blogspot.com

I will keep working until I make it

 

[Sports Guy]

And then he makes a second post. Nothing like self-promotion, I guess.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

Nothing wrong with that, I am a nobody anyway.

 

[Sports Guy]

You don't get it, dude. There is something wrong with your self-promotion. Moreover, then you have the excuse that English is your second language when someone points out your writing errors? This is buffoonery.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

I will keep improving, everybody make mistakes, nobody is perfect.

 

[jfs1000]

I don't like when other writers castigate others for errors. This forum seems to try and embarrass young writers who are enthusiastic about getting into the biz. Be encouraging instead of snarky. He isn't going to steal your job.

Certainly, Ruben has a problem as a writer with English being a second language. To Ruben, English language journalism probably isn't in the cards until that improves dramatically to be honest. But, over the air in TV or radio, or with some Spanish Language publications may be an opportunity.

A bi-lingual soccer writer or baseball writer is valuable. Radio and TV would work, or even behind the scenes doing the journalism part, reporting the news, and having an editor help your copy would be helpful. Some publications have Spanish versions. Try that too. Maybe a producer for radio or TV would work.

If you aren't a great writer, then you have to be a terrific journalist. That would mean breaking news and analysis. As a Spanish speaking writer, you can talk and get to know players that others can't. That's a big advantage over the better writers.

I would take a terrific journalist who can get news, develop sources and analyze over a talented writer who can turn a phrase. Keep on plugging away and find your niche.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

I love writing, I do it even if I dont have to, its a good hobby of mine.

I dont get discouraged at anything, my life has been a huge struggle but here I am earning my paycheck and daydreaming of one day to become a good journalist, the one that wont be manipulated with money and wont lie to his audience.

I love the communications field, filmmaming, broadcasting, radio, newspapers, that is why I decided to go back to college instead of getting an agent to go play abroad...

 

[Sports Guy]

Ruben, Speaking two languages is a definite plus for you. Go for it as a broadcaster, radio guy.

 

[SnarkShark]

You don't get it, dude. There is something wrong with your self-promotion. Moreover, then you have the excuse that English is your second language when someone points out your writing errors? This is buffoonery.

Take a deep breath, man. Sheesh.

 

[Sports Guy]

Maybe you should go troll someone else ...

 

[SnarkShark]

Maybe you should go troll someone else ...

You're lambasting a guy for coming on here to seek advice and direction, because you think he's self-promoting. And then you snidely chastise him for writing errors?

Maybe you need to take a step back.

 

[Sports Guy]

Maybe you need to take a step back.

 

[SnarkShark]

Maybe you need to take a step back.

Clever. Have a good day.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

I dont really know whats going on here, Im just a hard worker that wont quit until I get the job I want...

 

[Moderator1]

Hard worker WHO - keep at it and take advantage of being bilingual. That is a skill that can come in handy.

Sports Guy, cool it.

 

[ringer]

I have an idea. Ruben, could you find out which pro soccer games ESPN Deportes is broadcasting near you, call their production office, and see if you can work for their production staff as a "runner" during those games? It doesn't pay much but if you do good work, they will keep hiring you as needed. At the same time, it will allow you to try different off-camera roles, help you figure out what your strengths are, and enable you to make connections.

If you do this, though, it's best to be prepared to tell them exactly what you can do for them. They'll want skills, not dreams. (So it's worth highlighting your language skills, professional soccer knowledge, and -- if you can make a great cup of coffee, they'll like that, too.)

I hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[BDC99]

I don't like when other writers castigate others for errors. This forum seems to try and embarrass young writers who are enthusiastic about getting into the biz. Be encouraging instead of snarky. He isn't going to steal your job.

Certainly, Ruben has a problem as a writer with English being a second language. To Ruben, English language journalism probably isn't in the cards until that improves dramatically to be honest. But, over the air in TV or radio, or with some Spanish Language publications may be an opportunity.

A bi-lingual soccer writer or baseball writer is valuable. Radio and TV would work, or even behind the scenes doing the journalism part, reporting the news, and having an editor help your copy would be helpful. Some publications have Spanish versions. Try that too. Maybe a producer for radio or TV would work.

If you aren't a great writer, then you have to be a terrific journalist. That would mean breaking news and analysis. As a Spanish speaking writer, you can talk and get to know players that others can't. That's a big advantage over the better writers.

I would take a terrific journalist who can get news, develop sources and analyze over a talented writer who can turn a phrase. Keep on plugging away and find your niche.

+1. There are plenty of cases when some clueless kid gets on here and deserves to be taken down a peg, but this doesn't seem to be one of those. Ruben, polish your English a bit and you could be a very valuable commodity, being bilingual, having played the game at a pretty high level and appearing to have an interest in many aspects of the communications business. Best of luck to you.

 

[Ruben Rivas]

My senior year of college (I quit the team bc of injuries) I worked for the events crew at school so I learned most of the technology involved with recording and streaming live baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball games, I used the switchboard and the camera... some of the sound too.

I am stuck in Columbia SC right now, the only sports related thing that they have here are the usc gamecocks, I have a marketing job here, I had to take it, I have to pay bills, I don't really have any contacts with the gamecock media and I heard its hard to get in with them since a lot of students are looking for those positions.

I did a chrismast break internship at WIS (the local news channel) but because of transportation I couldn't stay with them.

I graduated a year and half ago, I am not that young, I went back to college after trying to play professional soccer.

For now I write for a Salvadorian page that is owned by one of my friends in El Salvador, the page has about 30k followers but I do most of the writing in Spanish, I also help with youth soccer coaching on my free time and I write for my blog, I enjoy editing videos as well.

In the long run I will like to coach or to work with films, tv and radio, I am passionated about all those things.

Thanks to those members with advices, its been a long journey for me but I am finally seeing a light in the tunnel, moving as a junior in High School from Los Angeles to Columbia South Carolina was a huge cultural shock, being one of the 10 hispanics on a school of 3k students where 85% were Anglo-Americans was really something.

Again, thanks for your attention, I will keep up with my blog and keep looking around to see where I can land a true journalism job, I will prefer to work for a sport network, as you guys know, I am friends with a few professional soccer players but I truly don't know anybody that works in the American media.