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Sports Media

Also offered as: Minor , Journalism (Major)

Learn how to report and write about sports and the people involved in them. Besides covering NCAA Division I games and talking to athletes, you'll go beyond the scoreboard to explore the factors that shape the 21st-century sports world.

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Sports Media

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Degree Level
Bachelor of Arts
Delivery
In Person
Time to Degree
8 Semesters
Credit Hours
120 Total, 48 in Major
Careers
Reporters,, Journalists, Postsecondary
Sports Media students at EIU

Why Study Sports Media at EIU?

  • Become part of one of the only accredited sports media majors in Illinois.
  • Develop strong writing, reporting, communication, and analytical skills through game stories, social media posts, columns and feature articles. These skills make our graduates competitive in multiple fields.
  • Use your coverage experiences to develop a strong story portfolio that will enhance job prospects.
  • Cover NCAA Division I sporting events and athletes. Benefit from a unique relationship between the sports media program and EIU athletics that allows students easy access to players and coaches.
  • Easily double-major throughout the School of Communication, Journalism & Theatre
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"From the moment I stepped onto campus, every professor, staff member, and student I encountered treated me with such genuine warmth and respect, as if I were already a valued member of their community. Despite not having officially joined the EIU family, I immediately felt a deep sense of belonging. The atmosphere was one of comfort and inclusivity, where everyone seemed genuinely invested in my success and well-being."
Abbey McCord
Sports Media | Class of 2025
Abbey McCord, Sports Media at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • On-the-ground reporting at EIU games allows students to interview athletes and coaches alongside professional peers.
  • Put your training into practice by covering EIU athletic teams for the award-winning Daily Eastern News. At the DEN, you can cover games, attend practices, write features and have your work recognized through national competitions.
  • Report on local, regional, and national sports at News Watch, our live, student-run newscast. Students will gain experience at putting together story packages and be on camera giving their reports.
  • Work behinds the scenes with the ESPN+ production truck when it visits campus to cover EIU sporting events.
  • Photograph live sports with one-on-one mentoring alongside our photojournalism professor.
Explore Courses
Hands-On Experience, Sports Media students at EIU

What You'll Learn

The B.A. in Sports Media prepares you to report from the sideline, anchor a sports broadcast, manage media relations for an athletic organization or tell the stories that define athletes and teams. It is a fit if you love sports, enjoy writing and speaking and want to go beyond the scoreboard to understand the factors that shape the 21st-century sports world.

Program 4-Year Sequence Curriculum
View in Catalog
$54,038
Median Salary for These CareersMedian salaryThe median is the middle value: half of the people counted earn more and half earn less. It is an estimate for a typical graduate, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay varies by employer, location, experience and the specific job.

Career OutcomesCareer outcomesThese are example careers that graduates of this program often pursue, taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET occupation list. They are examples, not job guarantees, and many graduates work in other fields.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

  • News Analysts, Reporters, &…
  • Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Career Insights

Job Outlook Average Outlook Average OutlookO*NET doesn't currently flag any of the careers linked to this program as Bright Outlook. That doesn't mean jobs aren't out there. It just means these careers aren't expected to grow quickly, don't have 75,000 or more projected openings, and aren't new and emerging.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)Job Zone 4: Considerable preparationMost of these careers require a four-year bachelor's degree. They also tend to build on several years of work-related experience or training.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Personality Fit ArtisticArtistic interest typeYou like to create. This could mean visual art, performance, writing or music, or using design to shape objects and materials.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

Connect With Us

Tim Drachlis
Journalism Instructor
tcdrachlis@eiu.edu
2521 Buzzard Hall
217-581-6003
Tim Drachlis Message Tim

Message Tim

or email tcdrachlis@eiu.edu directly
Matthew Gill
Department Chair
mjgill@eiu.edu
Buzzard Hall 2521
217-581-6003
Matthew Gill Message Matthew

Message Matthew

or email mjgill@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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