Reporting sports news is a popular job choice.
It is the dream of many young people to become sports reporters, but when you're just starting out, the job can pay well under what you may have expected and include more tasks than you bargained for.
Experience
Well-paid sports anchors tend to have years of experience under their belts and often started off as part-time sports writers for just over minimum wage. Competition in this business is steep, and only the dedicated will make it on camera.
Market Size
In television, the size of the market directly affects the amount of money stations have to pay their employees. The market size is defined by how many televisions are in a certain viewing area, and how many of those televisions are turned on at any given moment. New York City is the largest market, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. If you are just starting out, you'll get much more attention from television stations in small markets. After your career is underway, your experience will help you move to the larger ones.
Networking
You never know when making a favorable impression will help you get your dream job.
When starting out, your network will be small, but given the right opportunities, that network can expand exponentially. Have a business card ready everywhere you go. You never know when you might meet someone in the business. Use Facebook, Linked-in and other networking sites to keep in touch with colleagues after conferences and training sessions. Ask your contacts if they know of anyone in your particular field who may have advice for you.
Getting Paid
It takes time, dedication and hard work to get paid well in television.
A sports reporter in a small market makes anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000 a year. The smaller the market, though, the more that reporter is expected to do. As a reporter, you may also have to shoot and edit your own footage or produce your own segment. Each of these tasks will prepare you for the next step in your career. A sports anchor in a large market can expect to make well over six figures. Keep in mind that these television veterans usually have 15 to 20 years of on-camera experience.
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