For this week’s assignment, I once again used Perplexity AI. I asked it how to build different portfolios in three different, but similar career areas. I did this because I am interested in working in different areas of sports journalism and media.

To begin, I asked:

“Can you tell me what would be in a sports journalist’s portfolio?” and was given the response:

A sports journalist’s portfolio typically includes a variety of work samples that demonstrate their expertise in sports reporting. This may consist of published articles, opinion pieces, investigative stories, or multimedia content related to sports. Additionally, the portfolio should outline the journalist’s experiences, such as the types of publications they have contributed to, a bio, resume, and any other relevant credentials.

I also asked, “What are some examples of sports journalism work that can be included in a portfolio?” and received:

A sports journalist’s portfolio can include a variety of work samples such as sports/game coverage, event coverage, hard news, feature articles, opinion pieces, investigative stories, and multimedia content related to sports. For sports broadcasting, the portfolio should consist of numerous clips that display the individual’s abilities and talent as a sports broadcaster. It’s important to continually update the portfolio to show the depth of one’s abilities and to demonstrate constant improvement. Additionally, the portfolio should outline the journalist’s experiences, the types of publications they have contributed to, a bio, resume, and any other relevant credentials.

Both questions yielded similar, if not exact responses. However, the questions were very similar, but I do like that the AI also included what could go into a sports broadcasting portfolio. While the examples given weren’t too detailed, they basically told me: ‘Journalists, specifically sports journalists, need to show they can write about sports.’

After those two questions about sports journalism, I moved on to asking about sports media jobs and what their portfolios, bios, and cover letters would need.
My first question was “What’s important to include in an entry-level sports media portfolio?” Perplexity answered with:
For an entry-level sports media job, it’s crucial to include a variety of work samples in your portfolio that demonstrate your skills and versatility. Here are key elements to consider:
1. Diverse Content: Include a range of work, from articles and blog posts to videos and podcasts. This showcases your ability to cover sports in various formats.
2. Expertise in Sports: Highlight pieces that showcase your knowledge in specific sports you’re passionate about or have extensive knowledge in.
3. Multimedia Elements: Incorporate multimedia elements like infographics or interactive graphics to demonstrate your digital media skills.
4. Quality over Quantity: Present only the best of your work. Keep your portfolio clean and easy to navigate.
5. Showcase Your Personality: Add clips that reveal your personality, especially for broadcasting roles, to show you’re engaging and can connect with an audience.
6. Continuous Updates: Regularly update your portfolio with new work to show ongoing improvement and dedication.
7. Clear Navigation: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate, with intuitive moves from the homepage to different sections like “About Me” or your work samples.
8. Professional Presentation: Consider creating a personal website to professionally showcase your work and make it easily accessible to potential employers.
Remember, your portfolio is a reflection of your personal brand. It should not only display your skills and achievements but also give potential employers a glimpse of who you are as a sports media professional.

Then I asked, “What are some examples of sports media work that can be included in a digital portfolio?” and received the following answer:
Examples of sports media work that can be included in a digital portfolio are:
1. Written Articles: Sports/game coverage, event coverage, hard news, feature articles, and opinion pieces related to sports.
2. Multimedia Content: Video clips, audio snippets, podcasts, infographics, and interactive graphics showcasing reporting, interviews, or sports commentary.
3. Photography: For those interested in sports photography, a portfolio can include high-quality images capturing a variety of sports events and athletic activities.
4. Personal Website or Blog: Creating a personal website or blog to showcase your work and provide a platform for your written and multimedia content.
These examples demonstrate the diverse range of content that can be included in a digital portfolio for sports media.

I worked off of the previous answer of having multimedia content and asked the AI to elaborate,
“What are some examples of multimedia pieces that can be included in a sports media portfolio?”:
A sports media portfolio for an entry-level position can include various multimedia pieces such as:
1. Video Clips: Clips showcasing reporting, interviews, or sports commentary.
2. Audio Snippets: Samples of sports commentary, play-by-play, or interviews.
3. Podcasts: Sports-related podcast episodes demonstrating hosting or reporting skills.
4. Infographics: Visual representations of sports data, statistics, or timelines.
5. Interactive Multimedia: Engaging digital content like interactive graphics or web-based presentations related to sports.
These examples demonstrate versatility and the ability to produce engaging content across different formats, which is essential for a well-rounded sports media portfolio.

This question and its answer allowed me to go into even more detail about the specific job I was looking for in sports media. I want to try and get a job within the social media aspect of sports teams, so I began to ask questions about what it would take to be a social media admin for a sports team.

My first question out of my final three was, “What should I include in my portfolio if I want an entry-level job as a social media admin for a sports team?” yielding the response:
When applying for an entry-level social media admin position with a sports team, your portfolio should showcase your skills and abilities relevant to the role. Here are some key elements to include based on the search results:
1. Social Media Content: Examples of social media content creation, including posts, graphics, and videos related to sports. This can demonstrate your ability to create engaging and relevant content for the team’s audience.
2. Campaign Examples: Include case studies or examples of social media campaigns you’ve worked on, outlining the challenges, strategies, and results. This can illustrate your practical experience in managing social media for sports-related content.
3. Multimedia Skills: If applicable, include any multimedia work such as video editing, photography, or graphic design that is relevant to sports and social media content creation.
4. Personal Branding: Consider showcasing your personal brand by including any sports-related content you may have created for your own social media channels or personal projects.
5. Education and Certifications: If you have relevant education or certifications in social media management, digital marketing, or sports management, include these to demonstrate your commitment to professional development.
By including these elements in your portfolio, you can effectively demonstrate your suitability for an entry-level social media admin role with a sports team.

I mainly asked this question to see if it would be any different from the last couple of portfolio questions. I figured there might be some differences since this question was asked about a more specific job.

For the last two questions, I asked about what should be used in a bio and cover letter.

“What should I include in my bio for a media job in sports?”:
When creating a bio for a media job in sports, consider including the following elements:
1. Relevant Experience: Highlight any previous experience in sports media, such as internships, freelance work, or relevant full-time positions.
2. Key Skills: Mention specific skills that are relevant to the role, such as writing, broadcasting, video editing, social media management, or interviewing.
3. Education: Include any relevant degrees, certifications, or training in sports media or journalism.
4. Passion for Sports: Express your enthusiasm for sports and any specific sports or teams you are particularly passionate about.
5. Personality and Style: Consider infusing your bio with your unique personality and style, especially if you are pursuing on-air roles. This can help potential employers get a sense of your on-camera presence.
6. Accomplishments: If applicable, mention any notable achievements in the field of sports media, such as awards, recognition, or successful projects.
7. Continuous Improvement: Emphasize your commitment to ongoing learning and improvement in the field of sports media.
By including these elements in your bio, you can effectively present yourself as a strong candidate for a media job in the sports industry.

“What should include in a cover letter if I want to get a job as a social media admin for a sports team?”:
When writing a cover letter for a social media admin position with a sports team, it’s important to tailor the content to the specific role and organization. Here are some key elements to include based on the provided search results:
1. Introduction and Interest: Express your enthusiasm for the role and the specific sports team. Explain why you are interested in working for the team and how your passion for sports aligns with the position.
2. Relevant Experience and Skills: Highlight your experience in social media management, particularly as it relates to sports or similar industries. Discuss specific skills such as content creation, community management, analytics, and campaign execution.
3. Understanding of the Team and Audience: Demonstrate your knowledge of the sports team, its fan base, and the type of content that resonates with the audience. This shows that you understand the unique requirements of managing social media for a sports organization.
4. Achievements and Quantifiable Results: Provide examples of successful social media campaigns, growth in followers, or engagement metrics from previous roles. Quantifiable achievements help demonstrate your impact.
5. Closing and Call to Action: Conclude by reiterating your interest in the role and expressing your desire for an interview to discuss how you can contribute to the team’s social media success. Encourage further contact and thank the reader for their consideration.
By incorporating these elements into your cover letter, you can effectively showcase your qualifications and passion for the role of a social media admin with a sports team.

After doing research with AI, I now know examples of what I need to gather in my portfolio and opportunities I can seek out to help create work for a portfolio. I like how I now have an idea of specific examples I could include in my portfolio. Before, I had limited knowledge of what I should include, but it was mainly all vague ideas of works.

I think it’s important for me to remember that while showing that I have journalistic writing skills, to not focus solely on that to build a portfolio. As the AI suggested there are other areas to show off expertise in such as multimedia and social media skills.

Now that I have a basic map for starting, I plan to start curating examples to aid my portfolio and see if I can find areas where I can learn more and develop skills related to sports media.