Laura Howard: A Deep Dive into the Achievements and Personal Life of an Award-Winning Sports Journalist
Laura Howard is an award-winning sports journalist who specializes in women’s sports, football, disability sports, and hockey.
She has worked for Sky Sports, BBC, and talkSPORT.com, and her work has been published in Sky Sports News and The Hockey Paper.
In 2023, she won the SJA Academy Award and was the runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Vikki Orvice Student Writer of the Year 2024.
Early Life and Education
Laura Howard was born in Chiswick, London, United Kingdom in 1977. She was raised by her parents, Ollie Ben and Melvin Howard.
While details about her upbringing are not extensively documented, it is known that her family has been supportive of her career aspirations.
Laura has three siblings: an older sister named Natasha Mary Howard, born in 1970, and a younger brother named Michael Barclay Howard, born in 1984.
Her middle sibling status and the supportive family environment likely played a role in her development and success.
Laura Howard grew up with a passion for both sports and storytelling, which would later become the cornerstone of her career.
She pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Warwick, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History and Politics from 2020 to 2023.
Laura graduated with First Class Honors (78%) and was awarded the Final Year Undergraduate Roger Magraw History Joint Honours Prize for the best performance in her degree.
Her academic excellence also earned her the Arts Excellence Scholarship and recognition for outstanding performance in her second year.
In 2023, Laura further honed her journalistic skills by enrolling at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, where she completed a Master of Arts (MA) in Sports Journalism.
During this time, she was the recipient of the Thomas Read Bursary and the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund, which are awarded to outstanding students with a commitment to diversifying the media industry.
Career
Laura Howard has had a remarkable career in sports journalism. She has worked with various media outlets, including Sky Sports, VAVEL, Derby Telegraph, Sports Gazette, Her Football Hub, and The Essential Football Podcast.
Laura has also been a lead commentator for the first all-female commentary team in the Non-League for Hampton & Richmond FC.
Her work has earned her recognition and awards, including the SJA Academy Award at the British Sports Journalism Awards.
This award is given to journalists with less than one year of experience or those who have never worked in the industry full-time.
Current Roles
-
Freelance Women’s Football Writer | She’s A Baller (September 2024 – Present)
- Writes news and feature pieces on women’s football, focusing on the Women’s Super League (WSL).
-
- Conducts exclusive interviews with WSL players and provides accurate and timely content.
-
News Writer and Live Text Commentator | Stats Perform (July 2024 – Present)
- Provides live text commentary and analysis for Premier League, WSL, and Champions League matches.
-
- Writes on-the-whistle match reports for the Premier League website and creates data-led news pieces on football, tennis, Formula 1, cricket, and basketball.
-
Freelance Sports Journalist (March 2021 – Present)
- Contributed articles and features to The Guardian, Sky Sports, and The Derby Telegraph.
-
- Covered social issues in sports, including LGBT+ inclusion and Deaf Football.
-
- Co-founded the podcast All For Women’s Football, which analyzes all levels of the women’s football pyramid globally.
Previous Experience
-
Features Writer | The Hockey Paper (June 2023 – November 2024)
- Wrote weekly feature articles, conducted interviews, and ghostwrote a monthly column for Sam Ward.
-
- Covered England Senior Men’s hockey team and explored topics like gender roles in sports.
-
Sports Writer and Olympics Co-Editor | The Sports Gazette (September 2023 – September 2024)
- Edited the Olympics section leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
-
- Focused on underrepresented areas in sports, contributing to diverse coverage and editorial planning.
Notable Sports Stories
Laura Howard has covered several notable sports stories throughout her career, showcasing her dedication to impactful journalism and her ability to highlight underrepresented areas in sports. Here are some of her notable stories:
- “Chariots Return” Book Accompaniment: Laura contributed to the coverage of the book “Chariots Return,” which is linked to the Paris Olympics. Her work provided insights into the historical context and the significance of the Olympics.
- England’s Warm-Up for Euro 88: Laura covered a match organized by Fleet Street sports journalists that served as a warm-up for England’s Euro 88 campaign. Her reporting provided a unique perspective on the preparations and the significance of the match.
- SJA Academy Award Entry: Laura’s entry for the Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) Academy Award featured strong storytelling and argued for more role models in disability sport and women’s sport. Her work impressed the judges and highlighted the importance of representation in sports.
- Lead Commentator for All-Female Commentary Team: Laura was the lead commentator for the first all-female commentary team in the Non-League for Hampton & Richmond FC. This groundbreaking achievement showcased her talent and dedication to promoting gender diversity in sports journalism.
- Coverage of Underrepresented Areas in Sports: Laura has focused on underrepresented areas in sports, including LGBT+ inclusion and Deaf Football. Her work has contributed to diverse coverage and editorial planning, bringing attention to important social issues in sports.
Laura Howard’s career is marked by her commitment to impactful journalism and her efforts to bring diverse voices and stories to the forefront.
Her work has earned her recognition and awards, including the SJA Academy Award at the British Sports Journalism Awards.
Laura Howard’s Awards and Recognitions
- SJA Academy Award (2024): Laura Howard was awarded the Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) Academy Award at the British Sports Journalism Awards. This prestigious award is given to journalists with less than one year of experience or those who have never worked in the industry full-time. Laura’s entry featured strong storytelling and argued for more role models in disability sport and women’s sport.
- Placement at talkSPORT: As part of her SJA Academy Award, Laura received a placement at talkSPORT, where she gained valuable industry experience and contributed to various shows and the website.
- Recognition from St Mary’s University: Laura’s achievements have been celebrated by her alma mater, St Mary’s University, Twickenham. The university’s Sports Journalism Course Lead, Dr. Daragh Minogue, expressed pride in Laura’s accomplishments and highlighted her role as a model for other students.
- Highly Commended at SJA Awards: Alongside Laura, fellow St Mary’s student and women’s football writer Adriana Wehrens received Highly Commended in the same category at the SJA Awards.
Laura Howard’s awards and recognitions reflect her dedication to impactful journalism and her commitment to highlighting underrepresented areas in sports. Her work has earned her respect and admiration within the industry.
Financial Status
Laura Howard’s net worth as a freelance women’s football writer is not publicly disclosed. However, freelance journalists typically earn income based on the number of articles, features, and projects they complete.
Given her experience and recognition in the field, her net worth is likely to be modest but growing as she continues to build her career.
Salary: Freelance writers’ salaries can vary widely depending on their experience, the publications they write for, and the frequency of their work.
While specific figures for Laura Howard’s salary are not available, freelance sports journalists can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $70,000 per year. This range can fluctuate based on the volume and quality of their work.
Laura Howard’s Personal Life
- Age: Laura Howard was born in 1977, making her 46-47 years old as of 2024.
- Ethnicity: Laura is of English ethnicity.
- Nationality: She is British.
Physical Description:
- Height: Approximately 5 feet 4 inches (165 cm)
- Weight: Around 121 lbs (55 kg)
- Measurements: 34-25-36 inches (86-64-91 cm)
- Distinguishing Features: Laura has a slim, athletic build with dark brown hair and hazel green eyes.
Social Media Presence
Laura Howard is active on social media. She has a presence on Twitter under the handle @laura_hwd. On Twitter, she shares updates about her work, engages with her followers, and provides insights into her career and interests.