3 answers
Owen
Student
Dalton, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
400 views
How difficult is it to find a job in Sports Broadcasting/Media in Massachusetts? What is the base pay??
I'm wondering how many people graduate with a degree in Sports Broadcasting/Media and end up not finding a job in the field.
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3 answers
Barry Abrams
Host/producer - "In The Gate" thoroughbred podcast at ESPN
31
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Barry’s Answer
Hi, Luke!
Thanks for reaching out. The questions you need to ask yourself here - as with anything else you do in your life - are:
1. How badly do you want it?
2. How hard are you willing to work for it?
There is much more supply (people like you) than demand (job opportunities), so it’s - for lack of a better term - a “seller’s market.” Obviously, the behemoths in the Massachusetts sports broadcasting market are NESN and Comcast Sports Boston. I imagine that entry level pay will be such that you’ll be buying Mac and cheese frequently. :) When I started at ESPN in 1992, I made $15,600/year.
You can also look locally to different parts of the state, to small radio stations. Boston radio (The Sports Hub, for example) is a top 5 market, but places like Worcester, Stockbridge, or other western Mass towns might want someone to cover local school sports.
Because Massachusetts is a very desirable destination, even local cable (New England Cable News, for example) is going to draw experienced on-air talent and producers. Those jobs will be competitive.
You can try finding a niche that may not be filled and try to fill it yourself. Maybe there’s no outlet regularly covering local sports in those smaller, aforementioned towns. As a way to make your own internship, you could cover those sports for a website you develop. You might have to bag groceries to pay your rent while you cover high school, but again I ask - how badly do you want it and how hard are you willing to work for it?
I’m not trying to discourage you, but just to give you a reality check of how hard it is to get there. There’s always room in the business for someone driven enough and talented enough. Perhaps you are that person!
Best regards,
Barry Abrams
Thanks for reaching out. The questions you need to ask yourself here - as with anything else you do in your life - are:
1. How badly do you want it?
2. How hard are you willing to work for it?
There is much more supply (people like you) than demand (job opportunities), so it’s - for lack of a better term - a “seller’s market.” Obviously, the behemoths in the Massachusetts sports broadcasting market are NESN and Comcast Sports Boston. I imagine that entry level pay will be such that you’ll be buying Mac and cheese frequently. :) When I started at ESPN in 1992, I made $15,600/year.
You can also look locally to different parts of the state, to small radio stations. Boston radio (The Sports Hub, for example) is a top 5 market, but places like Worcester, Stockbridge, or other western Mass towns might want someone to cover local school sports.
Because Massachusetts is a very desirable destination, even local cable (New England Cable News, for example) is going to draw experienced on-air talent and producers. Those jobs will be competitive.
You can try finding a niche that may not be filled and try to fill it yourself. Maybe there’s no outlet regularly covering local sports in those smaller, aforementioned towns. As a way to make your own internship, you could cover those sports for a website you develop. You might have to bag groceries to pay your rent while you cover high school, but again I ask - how badly do you want it and how hard are you willing to work for it?
I’m not trying to discourage you, but just to give you a reality check of how hard it is to get there. There’s always room in the business for someone driven enough and talented enough. Perhaps you are that person!
Best regards,
Barry Abrams
Luke Trimberger
Student
147
Answers
Champaign, Illinois
Updated
Luke’s Answer
Finding a job in Sports Broadcasting/Media in Massachusetts can be competitive, but it's not impossible. Here's a quick rundown:
Competition: The field attracts many passionate applicants, so relevant experience and strong skills are crucial.
Market Size: Massachusetts has a good-sized sports media market with professional teams and media outlets. This offers opportunities, but also competition.
Base Pay: Entry-level jobs might start around $30,000 annually, but can vary depending on the role, location, and specific employer.
No exact data is available on the percentage of graduates who don't find jobs in the field. However, here are some tips to improve your chances:
Gain Experience: Internships, volunteering, or creating your own sports content can give you a competitive edge.
Network: Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and build relationships.
Develop Skills: Focus on strong communication, storytelling, and video editing skills.
Competition: The field attracts many passionate applicants, so relevant experience and strong skills are crucial.
Market Size: Massachusetts has a good-sized sports media market with professional teams and media outlets. This offers opportunities, but also competition.
Base Pay: Entry-level jobs might start around $30,000 annually, but can vary depending on the role, location, and specific employer.
No exact data is available on the percentage of graduates who don't find jobs in the field. However, here are some tips to improve your chances:
Gain Experience: Internships, volunteering, or creating your own sports content can give you a competitive edge.
Network: Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and build relationships.
Develop Skills: Focus on strong communication, storytelling, and video editing skills.
Thank you so much, Luke!
Owen
Amanda Gifford Lockwood
Sr. Coordinating Producer/VP at ESPN
10
Answers
Bristol, Connecticut
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
It really depends how flexible you are in your job search. If you're willing to move, work in different mediums (TV, radio, digital, etc.) and not necessarily find your "dream job" right away, there is no shortage of options to work in the industry. If you're bound to a certain area or a specific type of job, then the search becomes harder. It also depends if you want to be on air or behind the scenes. On air jobs are even harder than production/behind-the-scenes jobs. Massachusetts has a big city obviously (Boston) with a lot of sports teams within the state, so there are definitely worse states to be bound to. Given it's a small state, I'd also consider any opportunities in surrounding states (like Connecticut, NH, Vermont, RI, etc.) Best of luck!