sports writing
TRANSCRIPT
Roy S. CapangpanganRowena M. Ito
Melanie M. Moral
Sports writing
Sports page is one of the most read sections of the newspaper because it is filled with actions and emotion of players who are idolized by sports enthusiasts. is not only confined on sports news. It also contains other kinds of articles like feature editorial, editorial columns and editorial cartoon among others.
Qualities of sports news
It answers the five W’s and one H (What, Who, Where, When, Why and How)
It primarily describes the most thrilling and eventful part of the game.It uses more colorful words, adjectives, figures of speech, local color and longer sentences, which are not commonly used in straight news.It uses special vocabulary called sports lingo.
Kinds of sports news
ADVANCE NEWS
it gives advance information of the coming event. The following are the expected outcomes news.
Kinds of sports news
ADVANCE NEWSSignificance of the game.Historical background of the game or event.Players and coaches.Physical and mental qualities of the athletes.Strengths and weaknesses of each player and team based on their previous competitions.Noteworthy event that could be included in the news.Weather that could affect the game.Expected viewers.Statement of the coaches and athletes.
Kinds of sports news
COVERAGE NEWS
--an on the spot news of
an actual game or event.
Kinds of sports news
COVERAGE NEWSIt contains important reports like the following:Outcome.
Spectacular parts of the game.
Star player.
Weather.
Audience/viewers.comparison of the strength and weakness of the athletes of both teams.
Significance of the Outcome.
Kinds of sports news
FOLLOW-UP STORY NEWS
--it summarizes the activities of the team. It also analyzes the recently concluded game like a player, who was injured and the psychological aspects of the players, chaos on the technicality, statistics and its significance
Kinds of sports news
NEWS BASED ON THE RECORDS
--it is based on the data gathered from authorities or officials of the game. It could also be a summary of the different events and almost simultaneously played in an athlete meet.
SUGGESTED WAYS TO GATHER DATA ON SPORTS NEWS:
BEFORE THE GAME
DURING THE ACTUAL GAME
AFTER THE GAME
BEFORE THE GAME
Know the rules of the game.
Know key people—coaches, trainers, players and their weight, height, and position in the team, experience and others.
List down their names in full and check the spelling.
If possible, attend practice session.
Jot down quote, anecdote and other event, which can be included in the sport news.
Interview key persons who are involved in the game.
Be at the venue ahead of time.Look for a good working place where you can closely witness the game.
Note interesting events before the game.Observe closely and list down the following:
The most thrilling part of the game.Unexpected event like a neophyte who performs excellently.
Humorous event.
Audience’s reactions.
Celebrities or prominent people who witness the game.Statement of the players, coaches and the audience.
DURING THE ACTUAL GAME
AFTER THE GAME
Check the accuracy of the score from the officials.
Interview star player or coach of the winning team, coach and athlete of the losing team can also be interviewed.
Note audience or viewers’ reactions.
Qualities of a good sports writer:
Must be sports enthusiast.
Must know the basic rules, strategies and players or team’s records.
Ability to take note quickly without missing the important sequence of the play.
Must be fair in reporting even if he has a favorite team or player.
Must observe accuracy in presenting facts.
Has wide knowledge on sports lingo.
sTips in writing the
sports newsWrite the story immediately after the event.
Be accurate not only with score but also in all other highlights of the game.
Include human interest like the personal background of the player.
Inject humorous event when needed.
Follow the inverted pyramid structure in presenting the data.
Support data with opinion.
Be original.
Use sports lingo but do not overdo it.
Be selective and pick out only from the multitude of details, the ones that count and can tickle the interest if the readers.
Structure of sports news coverage
THE LEAD--it summarizes or analyzes the event by giving the significance, the winner, the hero, the scores, the place and time or date when the event happens. It immediately answers five W’s and one H.Novelty Lead can also be used in writing sports news, but the second paragraph should also answer the five W’s and one H.
Structure of sports news coverage
THE BODY--it contains the play-by-play account of the game like the following:
The most crucial part of the game.
Star player.
Writer’s record of the background of athletes and coaches.
Observation of the number and reactions of the audience or viewers and the weather condition.
Celebrities who witness the game.S
S
CONCLUSION
Structure of sports news coverage
--it usually contains quotes from players and coaches, statistics and team standing.
THREE WAYS OF WRITING THE SPORTS
NEWS LEAD:
KEY PLAYthis is usually used when the best angle of the sports event is through the collective effort of all the members of the winning team.
THREE WAYS OF WRITING THE SPORTS
NEWS LEAD:
KEY PLAYERwhen one or two of the members of the team seem to standout of the rest of the players that caused the team to win the game, their heroic deed is the best angle to start a sports news.
MODELS OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
SPORTS ARTICLES
ADVANCE SPORTS NEWS
COVERAGE SPORTS STORYFOLLOW UP SPORTS STORYBASED ON THE RECORD SPORTS NEWS STORY NEWSSPORTS EDITORIAL
SPORTS FEATURE
END OF REPORT
Thanks for listening