World Sports Journalist Day: Appreciating People Who Brings Us Stories About All The Action

World Sports Journalists Day is observed globally on July 2 every year to acknowledge people who work hard to cover sporting events, games, as well as athletes.

Considering that sports appeal to a lot of people and is a key element of any media organization, it only seems fair that sports journalists are celebrated at least one day every year.

History Of World Sports Journalism Day

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) established World Sports Journalist Day in 1994 to honor the professional body’s 70th foundation anniversary. This global observance aims to boost the morale of sports journalists and encourage them to always aspire for excellence.

There are several associations of sports journalists, at the national or local level, that aim to maintain high standards of sports journalism. The AIPS unites these journalists and is committed to looking after their professional and ethical interests, including ensuring the best possible working conditions.

The AIPS was founded on July 2, 1924, during the Summer Olympics in Paris. The association’s partners include the International Association of Athletics Federations, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, and the International Olympic Committee.

What Does It Take To Be A Sports Journalist

Sports journalism requires skills in verbal and written communication for various news platforms. More than this, however, one needs to have a passion for different types of sports and a knack for understanding the rules in sports competition.

In this age, familiarity with traditional platforms like newspapers, television, and radio might not suffice. A sports journalist needs to create content for social media as well, especially now that the audiences have a tendency to rely on real-time updates through Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

A sports journalist creating content for social media needs to be quick at writing concise descriptions and taking good-quality photos or videos.

A degree in journalism and communication might be beneficial for aspiring sports journalists, but to break into the competition, it is important to have a unique voice and a good understanding of what the modern audience wants.