From lifestyle journalism to football broadcasting, Harriet Prior’s career has been anything but ordinary.
Now a Reporter and Content Creator at Sky Sports, she shares in our latest Industry Insider feature how saying yes, trusting her instincts and embracing the unexpected led her to a career in sport.
Tell us about yourself, what do you do in your current role and what roles have you done previously?
It’s an understatement to say everything has happened quite unexpectedly in my journey to where I am today! I started out as a lifestyle journalist and in lockdown I started reaching out to other publications and pitching ideas to them, writing for publications including The Independent, GQ & The Guardian.
My content gradually became more football focused, and that’s when I started applying for roles in this space, and my first full time job actually was offered to me about a year after I applied for a different role at that company (The Anfield Wrap). Full transparency – I went on LinkedIn for maybe the first time ever and decided randomly to apply there without too much thought or conviction. Just go for things, trust me.
I was a producer and presenter there for nearly three years and made lots of contacts along the way which allowed me to eventually go freelance, working for different broadcasters such as Premier League Productions and LFCTV. I was part of the transfer shows on Sky Sports News, and so when a full time job came up in the football team at Sky Sports I jumped at the opportunity and after a few interviews was offered the job.
Which brings me to where I am today, a reporter and content creator at Sky Sports doing everything from live reporting on games, sit down interviews, social features, pre- and post-match interviews and more.
What three words would you use to describe your role?
Varied, fulfilling, unconventional
“Normal” isn’t a thing in sport so what does an “average” week look like for you?
Haha, it definitely is not normal and can change week to week, and day to day!
I generally have ‘in visions’ for Soccer Saturday/Special (providing updates on games) on a Tuesday and Saturday, and so Monday and Friday become preparation days.
I then usually have some form of interview, whether that’s for social or one of our programmes, and then on top of that I report on games that are live on Sky, particularly WSL at the moment which is a lot of Sundays. It honestly changes week to week though, and I love it that way!
How did you end up where you are right now? When did you know you wanted to work in sport?
By saying yes a lot and working the rest out later. Football has always been the true love of my life (cheesy, I know), but working in football felt like a distant dream as a young girl.
When I gradually saw more women in the industry, I decided to go for it at the age of 24. I think I ended up here from a combination of mostly hard work and a little bit of luck along the way.
What is your number one focus when it comes to your work?
Doing things differently and recognising my perspective is a superpower.
When I prep for an interview, for example, I watch the last 5 interviews the player has done back so I know I’m not repeating things they’ve said multiple times.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
You will probably never feel ready, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. If I’d waited to feel ready, I would never have got started.
What are you most excited about in the sport industry?
Seeing how the blend between social and linear content continues to develop, particularly as we start to see players develop a social presence off their own accord, and how that will work with more traditional broadcasting.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
People on the internet that still don’t believe I am good enough to do my job simply because I’m a woman. The better we do, the more we have to deal with online.
Sport is a hectic industry, what do you do to switch off?
Spending time with my nieces is probably the only time I’m able to fully switch off!
Sticking to good routines is important for me though, walking, yoga, exercising, spending time with my friends – and a big summer of holidays when the season ends!
If you were to give a piece of advice to someone wanting to do your role, what would you say?
Start small – look at where people you are inspired by started and you will often find it is as a runner, for local media in radio or podcasting, for websites. Also, the internet now provides an incredible opportunity for you to create your own content, so don’t be embarrassed – just start.
Don’t let your fear of what other people might say hold you back (advice in work and in life that I live by!)
How to connect with Harriet Prior…
I’m on Instagram, TikTok and X @harrieteprior – come join me!
