Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wrestling Features Writer

🎯 Role Definition

The Wrestling Features Writer is a specialized sports journalist focused on producing long-form, narrative-driven stories about professional and amateur wrestling. This role requires deep beat knowledge, excellent reporting and interviewing skills, and the ability to craft feature-length profiles, investigative pieces, and cultural explainers that engage both hardcore fans and mainstream sports readers. The ideal candidate combines storytelling craft with SEO and multiplatform production experience to grow readership, subscriptions, and social engagement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Staff or freelance sports reporter covering wrestling, combat sports, or entertainment beats.
Feature writer or reporter at local newspapers, sports blogs, or digital lifestyle publications.
Multimedia journalist or content creator with experience producing sports long-form storytelling.

Advancement To:

Senior Features Writer / Senior Sports Features Editor
Lead Wrestling Editor or Beat Editor
Managing Editor (Sports) or Executive Editor for niche sports verticals

Lateral Moves:

Multimedia Producer (podcasts, video features)
Audience/Content Strategist focused on sports verticals
Investigative reporter specializing in sports business and culture

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Research, pitch, and produce deeply reported long-form feature stories focused on professional, independent, and amateur wrestling — crafting narrative arcs that include character development, scene setting, and context-driven analysis to appeal to both hardcore fans and general sports audiences.
Maintain a steady pipeline of original, exclusive feature ideas by monitoring wrestling news cycles, listening to fan communities, analyzing social trends, and using audience data to prioritize stories with high engagement and subscription potential.
Conduct comprehensive pre-interview research — review match footage, promotional materials, archival articles, social media histories, ratings data, and industry databases — to develop focused interview guides and identify unique story angles and corroborating sources.
Schedule, conduct, and transcribe long-form interviews with wrestlers, promoters, trainers, referees, producers, historians, and insiders; cultivate relationships that lead to recurring access and exclusive profiles.
Write polished feature copy (1,200–4,000+ words where required), balancing immersive narrative scenes with clear exposition, accurate wrestling terminology, and data-backed explanation that holds up under editorial and legal review.
Collaborate closely with editors to refine story structure, clarify key themes, comply with house style (AP/Chicago as required), and implement heavy-line editing while preserving reporter voice and narrative impact.
Optimize every feature for search and discoverability using keyword research, effective headline testing, meta descriptions, structured subheads, and on-page SEO best practices to maximize organic traffic and subscription conversions.
Use content management systems (WordPress, Drupal, or proprietary CMS) to format stories, embed multimedia (video, audio, timelines), add captions and alt text, manage tags and categories, and schedule publication windows aligned with editorial strategy.
Coordinate with video producers, photographers, illustrators, and audio teams to create complementary assets (photo essays, highlight reels, podcast segments) that increase time-on-page and social sharing of features.
Attend live events, TV tapings, house shows, conventions, and press conferences to report in-person, gather quotes and color, capture original photography or B-roll, and file timely dispatches that feed longer features and breaking-news follow-ups.
Execute rigorous fact-checking and source verification processes, cross-check timelines, secure permissions for quoted material and media, and liaise with legal and rights teams to minimize libel risk and ensure ethical reporting standards.
Track and analyze content performance metrics (time-on-page, scroll depth, bounce, CTR, social shares) in collaboration with analytics and audience teams, iterate on storytelling formats, and report outcomes to inform future editorial planning.
Produce platform-tailored promotional content for social media (Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube) including short-form video scripts, captioned quote cards, and teaser threads to drive feature discovery and audience growth.
Write compelling newsletter copy and editorial summaries for subscription and retention campaigns, and help test paywall/soft-paywall strategies that convert high-value readers.
Mentor and edit copy from junior reporters, stringers, and freelancers — providing clear assignment briefs, constructive feedback on structure and sourcing, and ensuring consistent voice and quality across the vertical.
Manage freelance relationships: commission outside writers, negotiate rights and fees, set deadlines, review submissions for quality and style, and ensure timely payments and rights clearances.
Maintain and expand a diverse network of sources within the wrestling ecosystem, including indie promoters, developmental talent, wrestling historians, medical professionals, and production personnel to develop scoops and long-term reporting projects.
Build and maintain editorial calendars for serialized features, multi-part investigations, and thematic package stories; coordinate cross-functional timelines when integrating multimedia or sponsor content.
Translate technical wrestling jargon and in-ring mechanics into accessible prose for casual readers without alienating dedicated fans; provide sidebars or explainers where necessary to add context.
Produce data-driven explainers that leverage match statistics, ratings trends, social sentiment metrics, and historical comparisons to add authority and nuance to feature reportage.
Respond to breaking developments in the wrestling world with fast-turn context pieces and follow-on features that deepen reader understanding and capitalize on real-time attention.
Partner with marketing and audience development teams to plan promotional campaigns, A/B test headlines and imagery, and optimize distribution for organic and paid channels to meet traffic and subscriber goals.
Serve as an on-call contributor for liveblogs and minute-by-minute event coverage when needed, striking a balance between speed, accuracy, and narrative clarity.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional projects such as branded content (with strict editorial barriers), premium subscriber features, and special vertical launches by providing feature-level reporting and editorial oversight.
Assist podcast hosts and producers by researching show topics, preparing guest briefings, drafting episode outlines, and contributing as an on-air storyteller when requested.
Contribute copy and creative direction for promotional materials, sponsor integrations (clearly labeled), and social-first short-form series that tie back to feature coverage.
Participate actively in weekly editorial planning meetings, pitch sessions, and post-mortems to surface learnings from published features and refine editorial strategy.
Help maintain the editorial style guide and source database for wrestling coverage, including glossaries of terms, timeline references, and approved filing formats for recurring features.
Provide occasional on-site representation at industry events for publisher networking and rights negotiations, including speaking panels, live interviews, or moderated discussions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expert storytelling and long-form feature writing with demonstrated clips in sports or cultural journalism, preferably including wrestling or combat-sports coverage.
Advanced interviewing and source development skills — ability to secure and develop sensitive or exclusive interviews and maintain confidentiality when necessary.
Proficiency with content management systems (WordPress, Drupal, or proprietary CMS) for publishing, structuring, and tagging long-form content.
Strong SEO knowledge: keyword research, headline testing, meta descriptions, internal linking strategies, and an understanding of how search intent drives story planning.
Multimedia coordination skills: working knowledge of embedding video, audio, image galleries, and interactive elements; familiarity with basic video/audio editing (Premiere, Final Cut, Audition, Audacity) is a plus.
Competency with analytics and audience tools (Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Parse.ly, or similar) to interpret performance data and iterate on content strategy.
Strict fact-checking and research abilities: primary source verification, public-record checks, and ability to interpret match statistics and industry reports accurately.
Familiarity with AP Style (or house style) and editorial compliance for legal and libel risks; ability to work with legal teams on sensitive stories.
Social media content creation and community engagement experience — crafting platform-native promos and engaging with readers while following moderation policy.
Experience managing freelancers and budgets, including negotiating contracts, assigning clear briefs, and ensuring deliverables meet editorial standards.
Proficiency with transcription tools and techniques for long interviews; familiarity with automated transcription services and manual cleanup for accuracy.
Basic photo editing and image rights knowledge (Photoshop or equivalent) for captioning and delivering publish-ready multimedia.

Soft Skills

Exceptional narrative judgment and curiosity — ability to find the human story behind wrestling beats and translate complex subjects into accessible narrative.
Strong communication and collaboration — works closely with editors, producers, photographers, and marketing to deliver cohesive packages.
Time management and prioritization — meets tight deadlines while managing multiple long-form and short-form assignments.
Resilience and adaptability — handles travel, irregular event schedules, and fast-breaking news in a 24/7 sports environment.
Ethical judgment and integrity — handles confidential sources responsibly and adheres to journalistic standards.
Empathy and cultural sensitivity — builds trust with diverse sources and navigates sensitive personal narratives with care.
Creative problem solving — finds ways to produce high-impact stories within budget and resource constraints.
Audience-first mindset — uses data and reader feedback constructively to shape story formats and distribution plans.
Attention to detail — meticulous with facts, timelines, names, credits, and legal clearances.
Teaching and mentorship — ability to train and uplift junior writers and freelancers on craft and newsroom processes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English, Media Studies, or a related field OR equivalent professional experience as a working journalist.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Journalism, Sports Media, or a related discipline with coursework or projects in feature writing, investigative reporting, or multimedia storytelling.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Journalism
Communications
English / Creative Writing
Media Studies
Sports Management / Sports Journalism

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of professional journalism experience with demonstrated long-form feature clips; at least 2 years covering sports, entertainment, or wrestling preferred.

Preferred:

4+ years of experience producing long-form features or investigative pieces for national or niche sports publications.
Proven track record of original reporting, exclusive interviews, and multimedia package coordination.
Experience growing audience engagement through SEO, newsletter contributions, and social promotion.
Prior history covering wrestling or adjacent beats (mixed martial arts, combat sports, sports entertainment) strongly preferred.
Portfolio demonstrating narrative craftsmanship, rigorous sourcing, and the ability to produce series or serialized packages.