Summary: Our <a title="Sports Jobs in Focus" href="http://www.workinsports.com/blog/category/videos/sports-jobs-in-focus/">sports jobs in focus</a> column takes a deep dive into a specific role in the sports industry, this week we share some tips on being a top notch sports reporter. Enjoy!<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Sports Jobs in Focus: Sports Reporter<br> <br> // <br> <br> <a href="http://www.workinsports.com/search-sports-broadcasting-jobs-fr.asp"></a><br> Video Transcript for "Sports Jobs in Focus: Tips for Being a Sports Reporter"<br> Brian Clapp, WorkinSports.com Director of Content: Our sports jobs in focus column does a deep dive each week into a specific position in the sports industry. We explain the role, responsibilities and some tactics you can employ to really thrive in a specific sports career. We believe these columns will help you decide if a certain career is a match for you.<br> <br> <br> <br> This week we are going to discuss being a sports reporter, I don't think you need me to explain the role and responsibilities of that job, anyone interested in the sports industry should understand what it means to be a sports reporter. What we want to do is dig deeper into some tactics, some things you need to master in order to be one of <a title="Becoming a Sports Reporter: Laura Okmin’s Path to the NFL on Fox" href="http://www.workinsports.com/blog/becoming-a-sports-reporter-laura-okmins-path-to-the-nfl-on-fox/">the best sports reporters</a> and really thrive in the sports industry.<br> <br> The first skill necessary for sports reporters is mastering <a title="How to ask Questions That Will Always Inspire Thoughtful Answers" href="http://www.workinsports.com/blog/how-to-ask-questions-that-will-always-inspire-thoughtful-answers/">the art of asking questions</a>.<br> <br> Sports reporters need to be able to ask questions that coax answers out of people. If you phrase questions in a manner, especially to athletes who can often act like politicians, that allow for a 'yes' or 'no' or a really cliche answer, they will take it every time and you are left with very little to work with.<br> <br> The most effective way to improve your questioning is by studying the best sports reporters and how they do it. Good questions lead to good answers which leads to good stories. Bottom line.<br> <br> The next skill you have to master as a sports reporter is <a title="Soft Skills for Sports Jobs" href="http://www.workinsports.com/blog/soft-skills-for-sports-jobs/">to be really good at listening</a>.<br> <br> I see this huge problem especially among young sports reporters. So often, young sports reporters have a rigid thought process regarding what questions they are going to ask. After they ask their first question they stop listening to the answer and start mentally preparing how they will ask question #2.<br> <br> What you miss when you do that is the ability to follow up based on what the person said. If you were listening you might shift your questions completely when the interview subject starts to lead you down a different, more interesting path. If you are not listening, you'll never know that opportunity existed.<br> <br> Also, I've seen sports reporters ask questions that their subject just answered, but since they weren't listening they didn't realize and they end up looking foolish. Work on your listening and it will help your storytelling.<br> <br> Also, you have to be really adaptable as a sports reporter.<br> <br> You'll probably enter every situation with a thought process on a story angle, which is smart, but if you are too rigid in that concept you could fail miserably.<br> <br> Envision this scenario - the game ends, you have a few story ideas in mind but once you ask questions in the locker room, the story line doesn't materialize. So what do you do? Your idea just fell apart,
