1. Get a bachelors degree in journalism
2. ?
3. !!
Chess Job
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Oct 4, 2010
0
#4
1) First off, understand that chess journalism is a very, very limited market. In the US mainstream media has essentially dropped all coverage of chess. The NYT has a blog tied vaguely to their website but that is about it.
2) Like any field, take a look at the people who are successfull and make a realistic assessment of the factors that led to that. Take a guy like Mig Greengard. In his own right he was a respectable amateur (meaning no fide title). His writing career is very closely linked to Kasparov who brought him on board years ago at Kasparov chess.
If you look at New in chess, chess life and other publications of this sort, you will quickly find that almost all journalism spots are titled players of one sort or another. So the realistic thing to take away from this, is in the chess world, it is extrememly helpful to have a title. This gives you access to the sort of tournaments etc. that interest the rank file like us.
3) Technical writing - think Steve Lopez who did tnotes and such. Great writer, 1800-2000 strength player (if I recall correctly). He makes a living explaining to the average player how to use flagship products like chessbase. Plus is that the work is not limited to being a GM, downside is you won't be traveling the world watching the elite play.
So looking at those points, the key takeaway is to learn to write well. The backdoor into chess journalism is to be an exceptional writer, possibly even a journalist outside of chess. Consider the book, "Endgame" about Nigel Short's attempt at the World Championship - the author who is not a titled player, has a Michael Lewis type writing style that gives him the ability to write about chess to the general public and make it relevant.
I personally think getting a title and being part of the entourage of a world champion is the easiest way to get published however :)
Oct 4, 2010
0
#5
What made Mig appealing was his sense of humour. A friend of mine loved Mig's writing on chess, and one night I must have read 30 or 40 articles that Mig wrote a long time ago. He was really funny back then. I had forgotten all about Mig, until Nimzo5 brought him up! Nice memory
Another option not mentioned is to start writing online (like our own SonofPearl) and see if any of the major chess Sites take an interest in picking up your work. There is little room for chess journalism in print media, but IMHO the market for it online is growing. Especially if you specialize in a niche like scholastic chess, a particular country's chess organization, or competitive online chess.
Good luck! You need to start writing.
Hello I'm intreasted in becoming a chess journalist when I get older and I wanted to know the requirments academic and chess wise for getting the job. Also are there any tips that would raise my chance of getting the job. This is one of my goals I hope to achieve In chess.
P.S. Will I be able to still enter a lot of tournaments with this job or will I be limited also strong info I need.