◆ Journalism

What a sports reporter
really does.

16 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

16evidenced tasks
39,250in the US (2025)
$62,200median pay / year
7systems it runs on
See the 16 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Photograph or videotape news events.
Shoot a sequence of game-action photos and a 60-second sideline clip o…2 sources agree

The shape of the day

tap a movement to see its tasks

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The work, task by task

16 tasks
Hands on the work11
Photograph or videotape news events.+
Shoot a sequence of game-action photos and a 60-second sideline clip of the decisive fourth-quarter drive, tag each file with player names and minute marks, and upload the best ten to the desk within 20 minutes.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Write online blogs or commentary on news events+
Draft a 600-word post-game blog about the upset, include three short player reactions, embed the highlight clip and two stats to support the angle, then publish to the site before lunchtime and alert the social editor.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Coordinate with editors and news directors+
Confirm tomorrow’s interview slots with Tom and news director Sarah, share the planned story angle and sources, note any embargoes, and request a morning editorial meeting if there are roster or injury developments.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Select pertinent material for presentation+
Pull together the clips, quotes and stats that tell the halftime narrative for tonight’s game, prioritise clear visuals and three brief player soundbites, discard anything longer than 20 seconds, have the package ready for the 8:10 PM bulletin.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Transmit news reports from remote locations+
Send the live stand-up and two short interview files from the stadium to the newsroom upload point, include one-line captions and location tag, confirm successful transfer and notify desk by text so the 7 PM bulletin can use them.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.+
Research the medical angle on athlete concussion protocols, gather two expert quotes, three recent study bullet points and one local case example, write a 600-word explainer that links sport practice to the research and deliver to specialist editor by Friday noon.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.+
Reply to the reader who complained about biased commentary, acknowledge their concern, summarise our checks, offer a follow-up interview with the presenter, and send the note plus a copy to the audience editor within 24 hours.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Gather information through observation or investigation+
Watch the under-18s cup final in the press box, take organised notes on formations, key plays and crowd reaction, file a 400-word scene report with two player quotes and one coach reaction by midnight for the sports editor.
jd
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Grow the practice2
Keep the record2
Watch and assess1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
5 tasksMicrosoft Excelcompiling game logs, rosters and timelines so figures recalculate and trends are clearOpen its task library →
4 tasksMicrosoft Officepreparing questions, briefing documents and sending recorded files to colleagues
3 tasksMicrosoft Outlookscheduling meetings, sending confirmations and coordinating with editors and directors
3 tasksMicrosoft PowerPointassembles slides with embedded clips, captions and timing for broadcast-ready presentation
2 tasksMicrosoft Worddrafts and formats the 600-word explainer for the specialist editorOpen its task library →
1 taskAdobe Photoshopselecting, captioning and light editing images before sending to the desk
1 taskHypertext markup language HTMLformatting and publishing the blog post with embedded media on the website
Browse every evidenced software task →

The same task, four heights

this page is height one
ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a sports reporter actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $62,200 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $36,240; the top tenth near $144,140
  • 39,250 people employed in this occupation

India

the occupation GROUP, not this job · PLFS via ILOSTAT 2025
  • ₹38,298 a month — the median for Professionals, the group this work sits in
  • India publishes pay by broad occupation group, so this covers many jobs besides this one. It is a shape, not a salary.
read this carefullyThese two numbers are not comparable and must not be converted into each other. One is a yearly figure for this job alone; the other is a monthly figure for a whole family of jobs. What travels between them is the pattern, not the amount: experience lifts pay almost everywhere.

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job9 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register2 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild12 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS SKSJ29Edit audio and video material for journalistic usenational standard UK NOS SKSJ9Identify and cover events as a journalistnational standard

Close to this work

12 nearby
JournalismCopy Editor28 evidenced tasks JournalismFact Checker27 evidenced tasks JournalismBroadcast Producer27 evidenced tasks JournalismSocial Media Editor25 evidenced tasks JournalismFeature Writer22 evidenced tasks JournalismNewsletter Writer22 evidenced tasks JournalismEditorial Writer22 evidenced tasks JournalismNews Editor22 evidenced tasks

Questions people actually ask

You’ll often start before the game: prep stats in Microsoft Excel, check schedules in email (Microsoft Outlook), and confirm interviews. At the venue you observe the event, take notes, record or videotape action, and shoot simple photos or video for the website.

After the game you file a story or blog (HTML or a CMS), edit photos in Adobe Photoshop if needed, send drafts to editors, update the story as new info arrives, and answer reader emails or calls.

Learn Microsoft Word for writing, Microsoft Excel for stats and box scores, and Microsoft Outlook for scheduling and email. Editors often expect files in those formats.

Also learn basic HTML for publishing or formatting blogs and Adobe Photoshop for quick photo fixes. Knowing PowerPoint helps for presentations; video reporters learn simple editing tools later.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2025, 39,250 reporters were employed. Median pay was $62,200 per year, the lowest tenth earned $36,240, and the top tenth earned $144,140.

Begin writing regularly: start a blog, post game recaps with box scores you make in Excel, and publish using basic HTML or a school site. Volunteer at your local paper, radio, or campus media to build clips.

Learn to record interviews on your phone, transcribe key quotes, and edit photos in Photoshop. Send short clip packages and links to editors with a clear subject line and sample work.

A sports reporter gathers facts and files stories: interviews, research, observation, and updating live reports. You’ll write scripts for broadcast but your main job is collecting and verifying information.

A broadcaster/commentator focuses on on-air analysis and opinion during shows. Reporters must provide the raw reporting, sources, and sometimes the pre-recorded or written pieces broadcasters use.

You can use AI to summarize box scores, produce draft copy, or pull background facts, but always verify every fact, score, or quote against primary sources like team sites, game video, or interviews. Editors expect source checks.

Never upload recorded interviews or private messages to public AI tools without permission. Use AI as a time-saver for structure or idea generation, not as the final verified reporting.

Accuracy under deadline. That means keeping clear notes, recording interviews, and double-checking stats (use Excel or official league sites) before you file. Even small score errors damage credibility.

Also learn to pick the angle quickly: choose the most relevant facts and quotes for readers, then coordinate with your editor to polish and publish.