Sports JournalismSports Journalism

Write about players and teams, Write about players and teams,

not about games.not about games. By the time the newspaper or yearbook By the time the newspaper or yearbook

comes out, the info about games is comes out, the info about games is outdated.outdated.

Write about an individual player or group Write about an individual player or group (offense, defense, offensive line, the (offense, defense, offensive line, the battery, etc.)battery, etc.)

Write about groups of games in one story, Write about groups of games in one story, but look for trends…strong defense, but look for trends…strong defense, injuries, stars, etc.injuries, stars, etc.

Identify players in the story.Identify players in the story. Don’t just say “Joe Smith”Don’t just say “Joe Smith” Say “senior tackle Joe Smith”Say “senior tackle Joe Smith” Allows identify the person’s Allows identify the person’s

classification and positionclassification and position Don’t use numbers to identify grade Don’t use numbers to identify grade

or year of graduation.or year of graduation.

Keep up with team statistics Keep up with team statistics and use them in your story.and use them in your story.

Find out who keeps the team’s stats Find out who keeps the team’s stats and get to know them.and get to know them.

If a team breaks or ties a school or If a team breaks or ties a school or local record, you need to make that a local record, you need to make that a big part of your story.big part of your story.

Always know where the team ranks in Always know where the team ranks in the district, region and state. the district, region and state. (Chron.com)(Chron.com)

Keep up with individual Keep up with individual statistics and use them in your statistics and use them in your

stories.stories. If a player sets or ties a school or If a player sets or ties a school or

local record that should be the led in local record that should be the led in your story. your story.

Know sports writing stylesKnow sports writing styles Scores are numerals separated by Scores are numerals separated by

hyphens. (hyphens. (12-612-6 not 12 to 6) not 12 to 6) Records are numerals separated by Records are numerals separated by

hyphens (hyphens (8-28-2 not 8 and 2) not 8 and 2) The winning score always comes The winning score always comes

first, even if Travis didn’t win. first, even if Travis didn’t win.

Watch the team (player) Watch the team (player) practice and playpractice and play

You have to be present to know what You have to be present to know what happened…and take notes while you happened…and take notes while you are watching. are watching.

You can’t write a good sports story You can’t write a good sports story from someone else’s memory. from someone else’s memory.

You must spend time after You must spend time after games/matches, to speak to the games/matches, to speak to the players.players.

Remember that even in sports Remember that even in sports writing, a clear distinction must writing, a clear distinction must

exist between reporting and exist between reporting and commenting. commenting.

If you are writing an article about If you are writing an article about how the team is doing or a profile of how the team is doing or a profile of an athlete, you must remain an athlete, you must remain objective.objective.

If you are writing your own opinion, If you are writing your own opinion, it’s a commentary. it’s a commentary.

NEVERNEVER be a cheerleader be a cheerleader for your team!for your team!

Don’t write “our” team, write about Don’t write “our” team, write about “the” team. “the” team.

Never congratulate a team on its win Never congratulate a team on its win in your story.in your story.

What would you do?What would you do? The New Jersey Nets beat the Golden State The New Jersey Nets beat the Golden State

Warriors.Warriors. Nets forward Brian Scalabrine, who scored Nets forward Brian Scalabrine, who scored

a career-high 29 points, said this in an a career-high 29 points, said this in an interview: “I’ve got a great shooting coach, interview: “I’ve got a great shooting coach, and all the practice finally paid off,” and all the practice finally paid off,” Scalabrine said. “And my music’s a big Scalabrine said. “And my music’s a big help. I listen in my headset before the help. I listen in my headset before the game to get the right rhythm going.”game to get the right rhythm going.”

HOW WOULD YOU START THE STORY?HOW WOULD YOU START THE STORY?

What would you do?What would you do? Rebecca Turek, a graduate Rebecca Turek, a graduate

journalism student, asked him this – journalism student, asked him this – “Music…who do ya like?“Music…who do ya like?

““Metalicca,” Scalabrine replied with a Metalicca,” Scalabrine replied with a grin. “It really gets me going.”grin. “It really gets me going.”

Now…HOW WOULD YOU START THE Now…HOW WOULD YOU START THE STORY?STORY?

This is what was written…This is what was written… ““It was Metallica that helped beat the It was Metallica that helped beat the

Warriors.”Warriors.”

ExampleExampleTigers use inside game to beat RangersTigers use inside game to beat Rangers

By By WES SWIFTWES SWIFT

The Travis Tigers found the quickest way to a victory was straight to the The Travis Tigers found the quickest way to a victory was straight to the hoop.hoop.

The Tigers used a bruising inside game in the second half to pull away from The Tigers used a bruising inside game in the second half to pull away from the Clements Rangers for a 62-43 win Tuesday at Wheeler Fieldhouse.the Clements Rangers for a 62-43 win Tuesday at Wheeler Fieldhouse.

“Every win in district is a good win,” said Travis coach Craig Brownson said. “Every win in district is a good win,” said Travis coach Craig Brownson said. “This gets us to 4-1 (in district play), which means we’re in a good spot.“This gets us to 4-1 (in district play), which means we’re in a good spot.

“Every game is a battle because every team is well-coached, so we got to “Every game is a battle because every team is well-coached, so we got to come ready to play.”come ready to play.”

ExampleExampleJunior 'honored' to lead Lady PanthersJunior 'honored' to lead Lady Panthers

By Michael SudhalterBy Michael SudhalterErica Dunson was honored, and then, she brought her ‘A’ game.Erica Dunson was honored, and then, she brought her ‘A’ game.

The Klein Oak High junior missed the first quarter of the game because she The Klein Oak High junior missed the first quarter of the game because she was being sworn into the National Honor Society.was being sworn into the National Honor Society.

But Dunson scored 14 points – all in the second half – to help lead the Lady But Dunson scored 14 points – all in the second half – to help lead the Lady Panthers past Spring, 59-38 Friday night during Parent Appreciation Night Panthers past Spring, 59-38 Friday night during Parent Appreciation Night at Klein Oak.at Klein Oak.

“I went out there and had fun with it,” Dunson said.“I went out there and had fun with it,” Dunson said.

Klein Oak (12-17, 4-5) led the Lady Lions (5-22, 0-9), 22-19 at halftime, but Klein Oak (12-17, 4-5) led the Lady Lions (5-22, 0-9), 22-19 at halftime, but Dunson sparked a 7-0 run that put the team ahead 29-19.Dunson sparked a 7-0 run that put the team ahead 29-19.

Story ideasStory ideas Athletes and health; conditioning during the season, Athletes and health; conditioning during the season,

during off season; prevention and care of injuriesduring off season; prevention and care of injuries What it’s like to: warm the bench, lose eligibility, be What it’s like to: warm the bench, lose eligibility, be

injured the whole season, lose in the finals, be scoutedinjured the whole season, lose in the finals, be scouted Recreational and “extreme” sportsRecreational and “extreme” sports How and why coaches become coachesHow and why coaches become coaches Maintaining the athletic fields, courts, playing surfaces, Maintaining the athletic fields, courts, playing surfaces,

scoreboardsscoreboards A look in the weight roomA look in the weight room Generations of athletes in the same family, sibling Generations of athletes in the same family, sibling

athletes.athletes. A look at the athletic booster club.A look at the athletic booster club. How athletes make the transition from one sport to the How athletes make the transition from one sport to the

next.next. How athletes prepare for the final game of their high How athletes prepare for the final game of their high

school career.school career. Coping with sports injuries.Coping with sports injuries. The college recruiting process.The college recruiting process.

AssignmentAssignment Individual assignmentIndividual assignment Brainstorm 5 online sports story ideasBrainstorm 5 online sports story ideas

Use specific examples Use specific examples SportSport AthleteAthlete AngleAngle

Due to your teacher by the end of the Due to your teacher by the end of the period Wednesday.period Wednesday.

www.hghschooljournalism.orgwww.hghschooljournalism.org/Teachers/Teachers www.spj.orgwww.spj.org www.hcnonline.comwww.hcnonline.com