Picture this: you’ve just graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Media and are looking for work. The only problem is you’re not quite sure what you want to do with your degree. While you love following and discussing sports and know a thing or two about the world of media, there are dozens of fields to go into with a degree like yours, many of which pay much better than the country’s average salary. Here are a few jumping off points to consider as you begin to apply for jobs post-graduation.
Get a career in journalism
Perhaps the most obvious field to get into with a degree in sports media, journalism can be an incredibly rewarding career path for someone with a passion for following, writing about, and analyzing sports. Eric Weinberger is a great example of just where this sort of path can lead you, as he has forged an impressive resume an executive sports producer for the NFL. Whether it’s starting out at your local newspaper or radio station covering local teams, getting your foot in the door is the first step to building a portfolio in journalism.
Become a press agent
Media relations is another option if you’re looking for an exciting career to put your sports media degree to work in. Press agents handle interview requests, create and share press releases, and field other media queries for their clients. Focusing on the world of sports, you could become a press agent for a team, star athlete, or even a national sports organization. Especially if you have good organizational and writing skills, working in the public and media relations field can be a great way to combine your talents with your passions.
Work for your favorite team
One thing you may be noticing is that a degree in sports media allows you to align yourself with your favorite team. Beyond the world of PR, there are plenty of marketing and communications positions open at various teams, no matter what the sport. Audience services and group sales can also be popular positions at your local sports stadium, helping ensure that fans have a consistently excellent experience whenever they come to cheer on their team at a home game. It’s these officials that were responsible for the latest decision at the Twins stadium to ban large bags at their games. With a degree in sports media, it should be easy to get an interview for any of these kinds of positions affiliated with a team.
Specialize in events planning
Did you ever consider that events’ planning is another way to use your sports media degree? When it comes to planning successful sporting tournaments, there are a lot of logistics to juggle, and qualified sports event planners can be the difference between a tournament running smoothly or being frustrating to observe or participate in. Greater Lansing Sports Authority is one example of sport event planning in Lansing, MI. They handle everything from venue selection to hotel reservations and publicity, providing a variety of roles to pursue should you get involved in sports event planning. If you’re used to juggling lots of responsibilities, wearing multiple hats, and have an aptitude for coordinating large scale projects, this can be an ideal way to use your degree in sports media.
A degree in sports media goes far beyond the traditional concept of working as a sports writer or anchor on a post-game television program. The skills you build in project management, communications, and leadership as a student in sports media can be applied to a variety of careers in and adjacent to sports. From organizing large tournaments to serving as a liaison for some of the biggest teams in the NBA, NFL, and MLB, you’re bound to land in an exciting field with a degree in sports media.
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