Learning how to cover esports opens doors to one of the fastest-growing industries in media. The global esports audience reached over 530 million viewers in 2024, and that number keeps climbing. This growth creates real demand for journalists, content creators, and analysts who understand competitive gaming.
Esports coverage differs from traditional sports journalism in important ways. Matches happen online. Players stream their practice sessions. Communities form around Discord servers and Reddit threads. Anyone with a laptop can start covering esports today, but doing it well requires specific knowledge and skills.
This guide breaks down what beginners need to know. They’ll learn about the esports ecosystem, the skills that matter most, the types of content they can create, and how to build a portfolio that gets noticed.
Key Takeaways
- Esports coverage requires understanding different game categories, league structures, and team organizations before diving into reporting.
- Building game knowledge through watching matches and VOD reviews is essential for credibility in esports journalism.
- Match recaps, feature stories, analysis pieces, and video content are all viable formats for covering esports—experiment to find your strengths.
- Start publishing now on blogs, Medium, or Substack to build a portfolio, even if you’re covering smaller tournaments or tier-two teams.
- Twitter (X) remains the central networking hub for esports journalists to share work, engage with communities, and connect with industry insiders.
- Attending live events like major tournaments or local LANs accelerates networking and provides hands-on interview experience.
Understanding the Esports Landscape
Before anyone can cover esports effectively, they need to understand its structure. Esports isn’t one thing, it’s dozens of different games, leagues, and communities operating under the same umbrella.
Major Game Categories
Competitive gaming divides into several main categories:
- MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas): League of Legends and Dota 2 dominate this space. These games feature two teams of five players competing to destroy the enemy base.
- FPS (First-Person Shooters): Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty lead here. Teams battle for objectives or eliminations.
- Battle Royales: Fortnite and PUBG drop 100 players into shrinking maps where the last survivor wins.
- Fighting Games: Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 pit individual players against each other in one-on-one combat.
- Sports Simulations: EA FC and NBA 2K mirror traditional sports.
Each category has its own audience, vocabulary, and competitive structure. A journalist covering League of Legends needs different knowledge than someone covering Valorant.
League Structures and Organizations
Esports coverage requires familiarity with how competitions work. Major titles run professional leagues with franchised teams. The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) in North America, for example, features ten permanent organizations.
Other games use open circuit models. Counter-Strike teams compete across multiple third-party tournaments throughout the year, earning points toward major championships.
Professional organizations like Cloud9, Team Liquid, and Fnatic field rosters across multiple games. Understanding these org structures helps journalists track player movements and team dynamics.
Essential Skills for Esports Coverage
Strong esports coverage combines journalism fundamentals with game-specific expertise. Here’s what matters most.
Game Knowledge
Credibility in esports journalism starts with understanding the games. Writers don’t need to be professional players, but they should know the basics:
- Character abilities and team compositions
- Map layouts and strategic positions
- Meta shifts and patch changes
- Basic terminology (clutch, rotation, draft, etc.)
Watching professional matches regularly builds this knowledge. VOD reviews, recorded broadcasts of past matches, help beginners learn at their own pace.
Writing and Storytelling
Esports coverage demands clear, engaging writing. Match recaps need to capture excitement without drowning readers in jargon. Feature stories should humanize players beyond their in-game stats.
The best esports journalists tell stories that matter to fans. They explain why a roster change signals trouble for a team’s championship hopes. They reveal how a player overcame burnout to reach peak performance.
Interview Skills
Access to players, coaches, and analysts separates good coverage from great coverage. Journalists who conduct strong interviews get better quotes and deeper insights.
Preparing questions in advance matters. So does knowing when to follow up on interesting answers. Players respond better to specific questions than generic ones like “How do you feel about your performance?”
Speed and Accuracy
Esports news moves fast. A roster announcement drops, and Twitter explodes within minutes. Journalists who cover esports need to report quickly while still verifying information.
Double-checking sources prevents embarrassing corrections. But waiting too long means another outlet breaks the story first. Finding this balance takes practice.
Types of Esports Content to Create
Esports coverage takes many forms. Beginners should experiment with different formats to find their strengths.
Match Recaps and News Articles
These form the backbone of esports journalism. Match recaps summarize key moments, turning points, and standout performances. News articles report roster changes, tournament results, and industry developments.
Both require speed and accuracy. Readers want information quickly after events conclude.
Feature Stories and Profiles
Long-form features explore topics in depth. A profile might examine a player’s journey from bedroom gamer to professional competitor. An investigative piece could reveal problems within an organization.
These stories take longer to produce but often generate the most reader engagement. They showcase a journalist’s ability to report beyond the surface.
Analysis and Opinion Pieces
Esports coverage includes analytical content that breaks down strategy, team performance, and meta trends. Opinion columns let writers argue positions on controversial topics.
This content works best when backed by evidence. Stating that a team “looks weak” means little. Explaining specific problems in their early-game strategy provides real value.
Video and Podcast Content
Not all esports coverage happens through written articles. Video essays, YouTube breakdowns, and podcasts reach audiences who prefer audio-visual formats.
Many successful esports journalists work across multiple mediums. They write articles, appear on podcasts, and produce video content for different platforms.
Building Your Esports Portfolio and Network
Breaking into esports coverage requires proof of ability. A strong portfolio and professional network open doors.
Start Publishing Now
Aspiring esports journalists shouldn’t wait for permission. They can start a blog, post on Medium, or create a Substack newsletter. The goal is producing samples that demonstrate skill.
Covering smaller tournaments and tier-two teams often provides easier entry points. Less competition exists for these stories, and organizations appreciate the exposure.
Leverage Social Media
Twitter (X) remains the central hub for esports news and networking. Journalists who cover esports share their work there, engage with community discussions, and connect with industry insiders.
Building a following takes time. Consistent posting, smart engagement, and quality content eventually attract attention from editors and readers.
Connect with Outlets
Several websites specifically hire esports writers. Dot Esports, Dexerto, and TheGamer regularly publish esports coverage. Many accept freelance pitches from new writers.
Smaller outlets and team-specific fan sites also need content. These opportunities pay less but build portfolio clips and industry relationships.
Attend Events When Possible
In-person events accelerate networking dramatically. Major tournaments, like The International for Dota 2 or Worlds for League of Legends, gather players, coaches, and media in one location.
Even local LAN events provide chances to meet community members and practice interviewing players in person.
