Sports Media and Content Strategy FAQ

Understanding Careers in Sports Media

What is the role of the media in sports?

The media connects fans with their favorite sports, teams, and players through television, social media, print, video, and live events. This creates hundreds of jobs across teams, leagues, networks, and digital outlets, and the opportunities keep growing as new platforms appear.

How do I get a job in sports media?

You can work for a team, a league, a news outlet, or a dedicated sports media company. Many employers prefer a degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field, and direct knowledge of how a media team operates helps you stand out. Learning from an executive who runs one is a strong way to get your foot in the door.

What are some of the jobs in sports media?

Entry level sports media jobs include marketing intern, content coordinator, social media coordinator, media data analyst, community relations coordinator, broadcast production intern, technical copywriter, and game day operations coordinator. These roles exist with leagues such as the NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS, and NBA and with outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and Bleacher Report.

What is the difference between a message, a brand, and a story in sports media?

A message is what an organization wants to say, a brand is the identity and reputation people associate with it, and a story is the narrative that makes both memorable and shareable. Understanding how these three work together is central to content strategy, and it is one of the key lessons in SMWW’s course.

What is a content calendar, and why does it matter?

A content calendar is a schedule that plans what content will be published, on which channels, and when. It helps teams stay consistent, coordinate with games and events, and tell stories in a deliberate way. Learning to build and manage one is part of SMWW’s Sports Media and Content Strategy course.

Does sports media include press releases and crisis communication?

Yes. Sports communications professionals write press releases, manage relationships with the media, and handle crisis communication when issues arise. Teams, players, and leagues each communicate from a different viewpoint, and the course explains those differences.

About the SMWW Sports Media and Content Strategy Course

What will I learn in the Sports Media and Content Strategy course?

You get an overview of how a professional team’s media and content operation works. You learn the impact of social media, how to schedule and produce quality content, the difference between a message, brand, and story, integrated marketing and communication strategies, direct to consumer strategies, and how players, teams, leagues, and sponsors connect through the media. The final week covers jobs in media and content and how to get them.

Who teaches the Sports Media and Content Strategy course?

The course is led by Bryan Harper, Chief Marketing Officer of the Vegas Golden Knights, who spent 22 years with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the NHL club. Students get direct weekly access to an executive who oversees marketing, brand, entertainment, and production for a professional franchise.

Will this course help me get a job in sports media?

It can help, though no course can guarantee a job. You learn directly from a working sports executive, build practical content skills, and expand your network. SMWW also redesigns your resume to highlight your new skills and lists that you were taught first hand by Bryan Harper.

Is the course useful for sports other than football?

Yes. Although Harper’s background is in football, his lessons, assignments, and readings apply to many sports. You learn what a team’s media department does and how you can contribute, and those skills transfer to leagues around the world.

Who should take the Sports Media and Content Strategy course?

The course is a strong fit for anyone who wants to work in sports media, sports social media, radio, TV, new media, or print media, and for people pursuing sports journalism or content focused roles. It also helps coaches, athletes, and marketers who want to build an audience.

How is the course delivered?

The course runs for eight weeks online with weekly live, interactive Zoom chats that let you ask questions and discuss current issues in sports media with the instructor and classmates.

What if I need one-on-one assistance?

SMWW staff are available by phone throughout the course for one on one help with coursework, live sessions, or career questions. Call 1 877 SMWW NOW in the United States and Canada, +44 0 871 288 4799 in the United Kingdom, or +1 503 445 7105 from anywhere else. Our offices are in Portland, Oregon, and London, England.

Do you have more questions?

Call the office and ask! 1-877-SMWW-Now in the US or Canada. In London at +44(0) 871 288 4799 Everywhere else at +1-503-445-7105