Contrasting Desired Sports Journalism Skills in a Convergent Media Environment
Abstract
This research study considered the desired job skills for future newspaper sports reporters and television sports reporters in the convergence journalism era. A national survey of newspaper sports editors and TV sports directors ranked their five most important skills using open-ended responses. Although the skills were not correlated at each level of importance, a significant and strong correlation was found in overall rankings. Both groups stressed fundamental skills such as writing, but specialization was also important, especially production skills for TV sports journalists. Also, participants wanted applicants with a wider variety of skills to meet the demands of a converged media environment and a shrinking workforce.
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Article first published online: April 1, 2013
Issue published: September 2014
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