Journalism

Sports Writing

Preparation for Sports Writing

• Backgrounding-finding out information about the sport, the team, the coaches, the events & the issues you'll be covering
• Read other articles
• Know the rules & statistics
• Know the coaches & players
• Conduct interview
• Get anecdotes or colorful stories

Pregame Stories

• Preview of upcoming game that compares team & players, discusses team records & gives lineups
• Capture anticipation & significance of the matchup
• Find an angle that the student body might not know about (school game)
• Interview, historical features, short human interest stories

Pregame Stories: Advances

• Lazy journalists only announces time & place, team records, statistics & a few quotations from coaches
• This formula-stale
• More emotion since the game will be old news by the time it's printed

Included In Advances

• Significance of matchup (ex. Will this game decide who will go to play-offs?)
• Team records, background of the rivalry & last year's score
• Key players, injuries & starting lineups
• Styles of play

Also remember to...

• Involve the community by including advances on minor sports
• Both male & female sports
• Promote pep rallies & halftime shows
• An activity draws more fans only if it's given more coverage

Coverage On-the-Scene Reporting

• Press row- a row of seats reserved for the press, usually courtside
• Press box- a group of seats with a good view of the entire field
• Job depends on the ability to see all of the action with minimum distractions
• Take fans where they normally can't go, the sidelines, field, practices & locker rooms
• Interview athletes & coaches
• Provide an insight into good & bad news, why a particular play, why fumble
• Report objectively
• Avoid "Homers"-favors the home team
• give brief description or explanation on the things that stands out-things that call for attention
• Key plays may call for more elaboration
• Get good quotations-ask tough questions even if it angers the coach or the player

Postgame: Writing the Story

• Capture emotion, develop it: include description & quotations. Make emotion the theme of your story. Describe the pure drama of the contest
• Make reader see your story
• Use all senses
• Instead of offering your opinion on how they must feel, ask players & put their quotations, show how they feel

Effective Sportswriters

• Use crisp, lively words-especially verbs-to describe action
• Vivid details & imaginative style
• Avoid jargon & cliches