What is Sports Journalism? Definition, History, Famous Sports Journalists, Salary, and Future

What is Sports Journalism? Definition, History, Famous Sports Journalists, Salary, and Future

4 mins read4.8K Views Comment
Nupur
Nupur Jain
Senior Executive - Editorial
Updated on Nov 6, 2025 12:16 IST
With the rampant increase in sports events and the glitter they attract, sports journalism has become one of the most sought-after journalism techniques. It is a style of news reporting in which journalists cover live match analysis, interview players and management, and go behind the scenes. Learn about sports journalism here.

The passion for sports, particularly cricket, is huge in our country. Check out the role of sports journalism in covering some of the greatest entertainment events.

What is Sports Journalism?

What is Sports Journalism?

What is Sports Journalism? Sports is one of the most widely consumed genres, bringing in a lot of viewership, sponsorships, and monetary benefits. Sports is a whole world and generates a lot of employment. From the players on the field to the hawkers standing outside the stadiums, sports is a win-win for everyone, creating ample scope and opportunities for whoever is involved.

Journalism is a vast subject and consists of different types and forms, one such type is Sports Journalism. With the rampant increase in sports events and the masses it attracts, sports journalism has gone on to become one of the most sought-after journalism techniques. It is a style of news reporting where journalists cover LIVE games, analyse them, conduct interviews with players, support staff, and management, and go behind the scenes. In this article, we have covered sports journalism, its definition, characteristics, the salary of sports journalists in India and the future of sports journalism in the country.

Explore popular B.J.M.C. colleges for you

Based on ,B.J.M.C.

Change

Noida
₹3.50 L
Delhi
₹3.00 L
Delhi
₹4.19 L
Delhi
₹2.99 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Your preferences-B.J.M.C.Edit
Delhi
NA
Dehradun
₹7.33 L
Kolkata
₹3.60 L
Delhi
₹2.65 L
Delhi
NA
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections

The viewers who love watching their favourite sportsperson scoring goals or making runs, also love watching LIVE coverage, sports reporting, commentary, as well as pre and post-match analysis to better understand the game and satisfy their craving to know the game better. This coverage of the game is known as Sports Journalism. Sports Journalism in itself is a different world altogether and in today’s article on “What is Sports Journalism?” we will be covering everything related to this form of journalism in detail like the perfect definition, brief history, characteristics, and skills required in a sports journalist, famous sports journalists, salary, scope and future of sports journalism.

Q:   What are the total marks of XIC OET exam?
A:

XIC OET holds a total of 200 marks out of which 100 marks are for the objective type questions and 100 are for the subjective questions.

Q:   What is the ACJ exam duration for each section?
A:

The ACJ question paper has two sections.

  • Section I: English Language
  • Section II: General Knowledge

Candidates will get 2 hours to complete Section I and 1.5 hours to complete Section II. 

Q:   What is the FTII JET exam?
A:

The FTII JET stands for the Film and Television Institute of India Joint Entrance Examination. It is conducted by the Film and Television of India, Pune which comes unfer the academic institut under Ministry of Information and Boradcasting, Government of India. Candidates who qualify in the exam will be eligible for PG Diploma Courses granted Master’s degree equivalence by AIU. PG Certificate Courses approved by AICTE.

Table of contents
  • Definition of Sports Journalism
  • Brief History of Sports Journalism
  • Coverage of Major Sports Events
  • Characteristics and Skills Required
  • Famous Sports Journalists
  • Sports Journalists Salary
  • Sports Journalism: Future Trends and Career Scope
View More

Definition of Sports Journalism

In simple terms, Sports journalism can be called the mixture of sports and storytelling. It is a form of journalism that focuses on the coverage of sports events, players, and teams. From ground moments to behind-the-scenes narratives, it is the sports journalists who bring forward the best shots, captions, and interesting stories for millions of enthusiasts around the globe.

Explore more Mass Communication & Media exams with upcoming dates

CGCUET 2026 Registration

1 Nov '25 - 15 Dec '25

Last date to apply for March A...

27 Feb '26

CT SET 2026 Application Form

28 Feb '26

GMCET 2026 Admit Card

29 Jul '26

Brief History of Sports Journalism

Sports journalism can be traced back to ancient times during the time of the Olympic Games were historians and poets used to cover the moments. However, with the game getting an expansion in the 19th century and the rise of newspapers sports journalism started getting prominent. Earlier coverage was limited to newspapers, but now with the emergence of technology, it has spruced up to radio, television, and digital media.

Also read:

Coverage of Major Sports Events

Major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, the Super Bowl, Cricket World Cup, Cricket Premier Leagues, Football leagues, MMA Sports Events, and the Wimbledon Championships attract massive global crowds. 

Q:   How often is FTII JET conducted?
A:

FTII JET is conducted annually or once a year in 28 cities across the country. 

Q:   What is the duration of the IIMC entrance exam?
A:

There will be two separate Entrance Exams in two separate sittings on the same day. One entrance examination will be for 4 courses i.e., PG Diploma in Hindi Journalism, PG Diploma in English Journalism, PG Diploma in Public Relations & Advertising and PG Diploma in Radio & Television. While the another exam will be for Regional Language Journalism courses (Odia, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu). Each Test will be of 120 minutes.

These events are covered by all major as well as minor news outlets and in a very aggressive manner. Sports journalism showcases athletic prowess, human drama, triumph, and resilience in creative as well as extravagant ways.

Characteristics and Skills Required

To excel in sports journalism, journalists must have a special blend of skills and uniqueness, some of which are mentioned below - 

  • Curiosity about knowing the game
  • Passion for sports
  • Strong communication skills 
  • Attention to detail 
  • The capacity to work under pressure 
  • Ready to work during odd hours
  • Willingness to travel overseas or outstation for game coverage

Along with these, journalists must also have proficiency in multimedia storytelling, research skills, and adaptability to evolving technological trends.

Famous Sports Journalists

In the world of sports journalism, there are a lot of famous journalists who have graced the game outside the field with their unique presentation skills, deep analysis, and expert opinions. Some of them have also gone the way forward to bring us behind-the-scenes coverage of our famous sports. Some of the popular names from India and abroad are mentioned below who have shaped the industry with their talent and dedication - 

Famous International Sports Journalists 

  • Bob Costas
  • Howard Cosell
  • Christine Brennan
  • Peter Gammons 

Famous Sports Journalists in India

  • Vikrant Gupta
  • Sanjeeb Mukherjee
  • Kadambari Murali
  • Malika Bajaj

Also read:

Sports Journalists Salary

In India, sports journalism has witnessed a steady growth in recent years, fueled by the country's burgeoning interest in various sports, especially cricket. The salary of sports journalists in India depends upon various factors such as experience, the media house they are working for as well as the sports they are covering. In India, the salary of sports journalists ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 50,000 for journalists with 4-5 years of experience. With more experience, the salary even goes further.

Sports Journalism: Future Trends and Career Scope

The future of sports journalism has both opportunities as well as challenges. With the increase in digital content consumption, there is a rapid transformation going on in this specific genre. If sports journalists adapt to this transformation by embracing social media, and digital platforms they can grow higher in their careers. With the advent of narrative-based sports coverage, storytelling, data-driven analysis, and interactive viewer engagement sports journalism can go a notch higher. However, if they fail to adapt, they can lose their grip.

Read more:

Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
Nupur Jain
Senior Executive - Editorial

Nupur Jain started with a passion for educational content writing, which soon grew into a meaningful journey of helping students through reliable guidance. A commerce graduate from Delhi University, she has spent ov

Read Full Bio
qna

Comments