Networking is an important part of growing and keeping your business going. In the sports media world it is crucial, i noticed by connections through mutual friends and colleagues you get the best opportunity's!
To request a media pass to a basketball game i sent out an email to the home club & away club asking if i can work under their name at the location. If this doesn't work i try to reach out to players to work together and get there through them.
Almost everything goes with instagram nowadays, especially my clients/ audience. I connect through dm's, leaving comments behind, emails & asking other people for connections.