Sports writing


It's NOT only a game 

 Like it or not, sports attract a lot of readers, and they often are your most rabid readers. Take care of them. Here are tips to make your sports readers happy.

 

Sports Writer Tools -- powered by ehow
World of Sports -- Sports journalism can be dynamic, interesting, informative and original. For student journalists who aspire to become professional sports reporters, university and collegiate athletics provide an excellent opportunity to develop reporting skills by covering organized, high-level sports. Moreover, good sports reporters at student newspapers can become authorities in the sports they cover, which can be a distinct advantage when they want to sell their work on a freelance basis. 
From Sports Photography
Sports Photograph  -- We have all been captured in the moment of human drama. We all like a good action photo and, in particular, if your kids play sports, you want to remember them in their toils.
Quality sports shots are somewhat difficult to come by. Most people have limited access to events to photograph them. The further away you are from the event, the harder it becomes to capture the event in a pleasing manner. Sports are an event where crowd control is important, not only for the crowd's safety, but for the players also. There is nothing more frightening than to be on the sidelines of a football game, focused on a play in the field, when out of the blue a 250 pound line backer drives a player into your legs or a foul ball comes crashing at your $8,000 lens!
Sport Games Glossary -- At gamerisms, we present the top 10 sports games glossaries for the games we love to play and watch with a passion.  Sport gamerisms for soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, golf, hockey, football, tennis, cricket and rugby are defined. 
Think about sports writing other than team sports. Look around your school for students, faculty and staff who excel at sports such as bowling, skating, boxing, skeet shooting and other individual sports.

Writing sports recaps on deadline

Create good sports reporting habits early
By Joe Gisondi in On Sports

Gisondi covered sports and worked as a sports copy editor for more than 20 years at several newspapers in Florida, including the Fort Myers News-Press, Clearwater Sun, Florida Today and Orlando Sentinel. 

Sports journalists are returning to campus ahead of the rest of the student body in order to publish that first week's newspaper. Athletes have returned to campus, preparing for lengthy seasons of soccer, cross country, football and volleyball, among other sports. (And some teachers, like myself, are also gearing up for an exciting academic year.) That first issue can be a challenge. Here are some tips for preparing that first issue.

First, do something as simple as heading out to a practice. Introduce yourself to coaches, trainers and managers and watch the players work out. Many times, the managers and trainers are your best sources. They are there for every pass, corner kick and ankle sprain. You can get a lot of background from these folks, information that can lead to news stories and features. But also watch the practices. Don't write; just observe. Get accustomed to these practice sessions. Afterward, you can jot down a few thoughts and observations. Make sure the players see you at these practices so they know you are working as hard as they are, credibility that can lead to better working relationships and conversations. Attending practices is one of the most important things a sportswriter can do. 

Make sure you also write a season preview story. You'll need to get some background information first, determining, for example, the top players who return to each team.  One more suggestion for preview stories – interview opposing coaches and players as much as you cite your own players in order to get a fuller, more balanced look at your team's chances this season. This also yields a much more impressive clip. This may be difficult buy not impossible. Some coaches may consider this to be a positive on your part -- enterprising . Finally, make sure you introduce yourself to your school's athletic directors and coaches – even if only to pop in their offices for a few minutes. Reporting is about developing relationships. 


Photo from 8 Tips for Taking Sports Photos Like a Pro
8 Tips for Taking Sports Photos Like a Pro   

Digital Tips on sports photography   


This is a link to The Accidental Journalist where you can read A-blogging we shall go. . ., Working with photos and video, The power of words, The right way. . . and other posts not on Blogger.

Investigative Jounalism

Look at problems

Bullying is intentional aggressive behavior. It can take the form of physical or verbal harassment and involves an imbalance of power (a group of children can gang up on a victim or someone who is physically bigger or more aggressive can intimidate someone else, for instance).

 • Bullying behavior can include teasing, insulting someone (particularly about their weight or height, race, sexuality, religion or other personal traits), shoving, hitting, excluding someone, or gossiping about someone.

 • Bullying can cause a victim to feel upset, afraid, ashamed, embarrassed, and anxious about going to school. It can involve children of any age, including younger elementary grade-schoolers and even kindergarteners.
Bullying behavior is frequently repeated unless there is intervention. The topic of bullying in schools may seem to be overdone and not worthy of coverage in your school, but don't be so quick to judge.

School Buses Breed Bullying Bullying highlights need for parent-school cooperation
The Philadelphia Enquirer Pulitzer Prize-winning series on Violence in Schools
Hot Topics in Education

Finally, social media and modern technology open new threats to kids.

Some of these topics would make a great Investigative series in your publication. Break down the topic into several parts: The problem, causes and solutions may be three parts. Or, you could look at three or four types of bullying. Or you could look at examples of bullying with interviews -- online videos; national, state and local statistics; and end it all with an editorial.
Here's an article from The Poynter about writing an excellent series by Kelley Benham 
 Pick one and run with it.


Obviously, the series requires the work of writers, editors, designers, photojournalists and graphic artists. This requires a serious commitment on the part of the newspaper.  The same will be true for your staff. 

Here is another outstanding first-person investigative piece from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Homeless, Not Hopeless