Ways to Start a Sports Columnist/Blogging/Reporting Career

Hi All,

I am new this site/forum looking to get advice now how to start a career in the sports journalism field. I got a BA in Public Relations from Texas Tech in 2009 and have taken the proper News Writing Classes. Since 2009, I have been stuck in a cubicle procurement job and I'm seeking some change. I've always been a diehard sports fan (Football, Basketball, Soccer) and have started my own blog about a year and a half ago called the Has Beens Sports. I am interested in pursuing sports journalism as a career and wanted advice from professionals on what steps I can take to get closer to my dream job. Besides writing for my own blog, I do not have anything professionally published yet and that is my main goal of this year. Any advice would help. Thanks.

-Josh G.

 

Don't quit your day job.

 

lol I'll keep that in mind.

 

No relation.

Serious question, you write a blog about has-beens?

 

No advise but lots of questions:

Have you written about Craig and Adam James in your "Has Beens blog" ?

Are the cubicles you buy like the ones from Office Space?

 

I have a section called the Has Been of the Month to write about certain Has-Beens, but it's mainly just blog I use to write down my sports thoughts/topics and such. Craig James is a D-bag, I don't even have to explain that. Adam, though, had a good season for Tech, placing 2nd team All Big XII. The kid had a rough couple years with the student body hating on him, so to see him play this hard was impressive. And yes, I work in a cubicle just like office space.

 

If you want to make $25K/year in several months, take an unpaid internship at a paper right now.

 

On a serious note, maybe talk with a small local paper's sports editor and see if they need any help on a freelance basis on high school stuff. That will get you some professional clips.

 

Don't use the phrase dream job.

 

Learn to do more with less.

 

I don't think he was joking.

 

I plan on keeping my day job. It's tough out there especially for recent college grads. I got lucky.