💡 Why it matters: Fans want news, match reports and stories about their heroes. Sports journalists and commentators on TV, radio, podcasts and online keep fans informed and entertained.
🌍 Around the world
- United States: Overall employment in media and communication occupations is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
💰 What it can pay
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Starting out
- ₦800k – ₦2.5M
- Mid-career
- ₦2.5M – ₦8M
- Senior
- ₦8M – ₦25M
≈ ₦208k – ₦667k a month mid-career. Indicative estimate by Incusim.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Closest UK job: Newspaper or magazine journalist. Typical starter to experienced salary. National Careers Service, 2026
🇺🇸 United States
Closest US category: News analysts, reporters and journalists. Median pay only. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
🇨🇦 Canada
Closest Job Bank occupation: Journalist. Hourly wage low/median/high x 2,080 hours. Job Bank (Government of Canada), 2023-2024
Yearly pay before tax. UK, US and Canada figures come from the official sources named on each card. Nigeria has no official salary survey, so those are our indicative estimates. Real pay depends on the employer, the place, your skills and experience.
🛠️ What you actually do
- Report on matches, transfers and athletes' stories
- Interview players, coaches and fans
- Write articles or script video and audio pieces
- Commentate live on games
- Share content on social media and podcasts
⚡ Skills you'll need
- Writing
- Speaking
- Curiosity
- Sports knowledge
- Fact-checking
Get ready at school
🇳🇬 Nigeria
- Start a sports blog, podcast or YouTube channel and build a portfolio
- Training courses at media houses and broadcast academies
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Journalism apprenticeship
- Write for student media, a blog or a local club, and build a portfolio
🇺🇸 United States
- Write for the school paper, radio or a sports blog
- Internships at newspapers, TV, radio or digital sports outlets
🇨🇦 Canada
- Write for the school paper, radio or a sports blog
- Internships at newspapers, TV, radio or digital outlets
🗺️ Your path to this career
- 1Study English and Literature in school
- 2Write match reports for your school or a blog
- 3Earn a degree in mass communication or journalism
- 4Intern at a newspaper, radio or TV station
- 5Grow into reporter, commentator, presenter or editor
⏰ A day in the life
You go to the stadium early to chat with players, then watch the match and file a quick report. After the game you write a longer piece, record a podcast clip and share highlights online.