Sports Journalism Mid-Term Review

Updated

March 2011

Writer Blogger Videographer Radio & TV Commentator Webmaster

Skills of a Sports Journalist

Cover their team Give fans inside access Break news Develop sources

Beat reporters

Capture the anticipation Find a new angle Remember the basics Significance of the matchup Key players, team records, rivalry,

injuries

Writing the Advance

Lead includes 5 w’s and key element Nut paragraph Body of story in chronological order Avoid hometowning Use action verbs and crisp, lively words

Writing a Game Recap

Gives reader perspective Measures performance How is the writing style different? Use of hyphenated modifiers Metaphors, Similes and Alliterations

Post-Game Analysis

Opinionated Timely and relevant Written in first person Backed with facts Conversational

Column writing

Action verbs, literary style Sports jargon Seven Steps to Error-Free Stories Avoiding redundancies and clichés Writing for Broadcast

Sports Writing Style

Primary sources – coaches, players, AD Secondary sources – teammates, family,

fans Material sources – print publications Behind-the-scene sources – boosters, ex-

players, friends of the program

Finding Sources

Don’t burn your source Verify the information Try to find someone who will speak on-the-

record

Off-the-record sources

What purpose do quotes serve?

What are direct quotes?

What kind of quotes should be paraphrased?

What is attribution? Best attributive verb?

Using Quotes in Sports Journalism

Handling tips from anonymous sources Primary and secondary sources What it means to be “off the record” Blogs vs traditional print – how rules

differ Importance of accuracy

Tips and Protecting Sources

How do you set up an interview? How do you prepare for the interview? What physical tools should you bring? Why use open-ended questions? Why avoid leading questions? Key to asking follow-up questions? Body language and environment?

Sports Interviews

How blogs establish credibility How Twitter/Facebook connect you to

sources What multi-media skills are needed for

blogging?

Using Social Media

Role of a Sports Information Director Difference between reporters and SIDs What comprises a Media Guide? Function of a News Release? Organizing a news conference

Working with the Media