Sports journalism is a form of writing focusing on sporting subjects and events. Sports journalists cover sports events all over the world. They not only report sports news but also provide analysis. Sport is a key part of news journalism, with newspapers having a dedicated section for sports. Sporting journalism includes various formats, from match features to season previews, to investigative reporting and analysis of major sporting events. Sports journalists can work with various media platforms such as TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. The internet has brought many changes to sports journalism, including new methods of communication such as tweeting and online blogging.
Sports journalism differs from journalism more widely in that it focuses on one subject. It covers anything and everything related to sports. Sportswriters typically face more deadline pressure than other reporters, due to sporting events often occurring later in the day, meaning less time to meet the deadline. Despite these differences, sportswriters are expected to write and communicate to the same high standard as news journalists and to adhere to the same ethical and professional standards.
Sports journalists primarily need good knowledge of different sports and sports personalities. They should have communication skills to connect with individuals and technical skills to operate recording equipment, cameras, and edit media. This multi-faceted role requires very good interpersonal skills and the ability to use modern-day technologies. Sports journalists need strong communication skills to create stories and report on events. Developing contacts and building relationships is also important in helping in finding good stories. Sports journalists also need excellent research skills and attention to detail for source verification and fact-checking.
For those who wish to advance their journalistic career, a masters in sports journalism can be invaluable. A reputable course, such as that offered by St. Bonaventure University, will give students the necessary skills to become successful contemporary sports journalists. They are taught to work to high journalistic standards and use up-to-date methods for gathering news and developing authentic stories for traditional and digital media.
The option of online study offered by St. Bonaventure University gives the course excellent flexibility. Studying online can be a great option for people with jobs or other responsibilities. Students can organize their studies so that they fit in with their other responsibilities. When studying online, students can communicate virtually with others on the course and learn about their interests and career aspirations. Studying while working can be beneficial as students can apply what they learn in the workplace.
For people who are passionate about sports and writing, sports journalism is a chance to turn their passion into their livelihood. The opportunity to watch live sports is one of the benefits of being a sports journalist. There are opportunities to arrive early to games and meet the trainers, players, and coaches. After the game, interviews can be set up, giving the opportunity to discover other perspectives on sporting events. Sports journalists can also attend training sessions, giving them another chance to learn more about sportspeople and coaching staff. Attending live games regularly also provides the opportunity to network with other sports enthusiasts.
Journalists can also meet people online, such as through official websites for teams where they have fan forums, featuring discussions on recent news stories. They can also view social media accounts where players post about their lives on and off the field.
The Red Smith Award
This award is given annually by the Associated Press Sports Editors to a writer or editor who has made a major contribution to sports journalism. The award is named after Red Smith, a renowned sportswriter, and is considered the highest sports journalism honor in the country. Leon Carter, who writes for The Athletic, won the award in 2022. Carter grew up on a farm and wanted to be a sports journalist but did not meet anyone else of color with the same ambition. He is proud of being one of the founders of the Sports Journalism Institute, which aimed to encourage diversity amongst sports journalists. The institute has been running for 30 years, enabling hundreds of women and people of color to start a journalism career.
One of Carter’s students at the Sports Journalism Institute described his experiences of being a young minority journalist and how Carter helped him get into the business. He said that Carter wanted to train his students to be professional journalists, provide them with a system of mentors, and make newsrooms more diverse. He learned to be professional, how to develop sources, how to interview, how to report, and how to cover games on deadline. He was taught to read widely and study various sports and news sources.
Another student talked about Carter as a pioneer—Carter is only the third Black journalist to receive this award since it began in 1981. This individual followed Carter’s career pathway, becoming an executive sports editor, just like Carter. He believes Carter helped others achieve their goals in this field and has made a significant contribution to diversity in the sports industry.
Audience engagement
In the past, people expected sports scores and highlights from the radio, television, and newspapers. Sports journalism has recently expanded its reach and seen expectations change. Sports reporting now communicates with its audience using a range of media. The aim for reporters is to provide information that cannot be found elsewhere and to give something that stands out as different. With today’s 24-hour news cycle, sports reporting moves at a faster pace than ever, and sports fans can instantly receive game results, highlights, and breaking news.
Deloitte published a report on sports fans’ engagement throughout the year. The report concluded that the sports industry needs fans to engage in the off-season and the regular season. It is a challenge for editors and writers to find content without transactions, drafts, or matches. Deloitte found that 95% of respondents wanted information about their favorite teams and leagues throughout the year. 65% wanted a minimum of monthly content. Sports reporting uses content such as tweets and player interviews to fill the gap. Deloitte found that preferences for rapid updates came from sports radio, print journalism, social media, sports websites, television, and mobile applications.
There is a lot of competition for attention from sports fans. Leading journalists have skills that are applicable to various forms of media. Sports journalists must have a foundation of reporting, writing, and interviewing skills, and the field needs new writers who connect with their readers. Audiences for year-round content are mainly found in digital media, and writers must make unique contributions on multiple platforms that stand out from the competition.
Sportswriters also need the investigative skills that journalists have used for many years. Stories often involve business and legal issues that require interviews with experts and database research. Using visualization and data analysis has become necessary for journalists. The increase in smartphone use by sports fans has meant journalism has changed—using social media and video and audio content has become an essential skill. Journalists must be open to new tools and platforms to reach their audience. Writers producing multimedia content are in high demand as their work reaches large audiences.
The different types of sports stories
Sports journalism is diverse in its forms of reporting. Here are five of the most common types of sports stories.
Straight-lead game story
This uses a straight-news format and is the most basic kind of sports writing. This type of article will sum up the main occurrences of a game, such as key player actions, the final score, and who won or lost. The story continues with which players made a big contribution to the final outcome, after-game analysis, and quotes from players and coaches. Straight-lead game stories are often used for school and some college sports, but sportswriters reporting on major sporting events do not usually use this format as their readers typically already know the highlights and scores from seeing the game on television.
Feature game story
The feature game story is popular amongst sports writers because it provides readers with a different perspective from the television highlights. It uses a straight news format and is published when the team and coach prepare for the upcoming season or when the season has finished. The writer may focus on an interesting character amongst the coaches and players; scores and sporting events are less important to this format, as it is assumed the reader is already informed in this regard. In this format, writers must use investigative skills to find information that interests the reader. The story aims to give readers an interesting perspective on the game and the people participating in it. This kind of article can lend itself to a serial format.
Profiles
Profiles are given of certain sports people, such as interesting coaches or new athletes building an impressive career. The journalist looks for people to profile who might interest their readers. The journalist may already know about the person’s sporting career, but they can find new information on their background and interview the person and others that know them to create an informed article with information not known to the reader.
Season previews and wrap-up stories
These articles are published when coaches and their teams have completed a campaign or are preparing for the next one. The writer analyzes the season’s performance and the experiences of the team. They usually share the expectations of coaches and players and how they feel at the end of the season. These stories are often presented in columns and sometimes will include critiques of the performance of an individual, group, or coach.
Columns
Sportswriters often share their opinions in sports columns. Sometimes they might write critically if a coach, player, or team has not performed well. Other times, they may write in admiration about an individual or team’s performance. Good columns will focus on interesting stories, such as when a coach leads a weak team to victory in a championship or a lesser-known player does particularly well. Sports writers have a responsibility not to write about rumors but to act ethically. They must always check facts are accurate and earn the reader’s respect for authentic writing. Sportswriters must be very observant and always be looking for the next story.
Sportswriters are in the unique position to take their readers to places and situations they would not normally experience, such as the players’ dressing room after an unexpected win, the sidelines during a tense match, or a player’s or coach’s home. They can make these experiences come alive for their audience with excellent writing skills. Journalists who write columns are likely to be experienced writers who have developed expertise in their subject.
Jobs in sports journalism
There are various job roles within sports journalism, and here are some examples.
Sports reporter
This job requires reporters to travel to different places to cover sports events and give live reports on the action as it happens. They may discuss strategy, provide background information on players and teams, and provide analysis after the game. They interview the coaches and players and provide updates on scores, statistics, and other information related to the event. They aim to be unbiased and give a comprehensive view of the event. There is demand for these reporters in news channels, magazines, and newspaper agencies. After getting experience as a reporter, the next step can be becoming a sports editor.
Sportswriter
Being a sportswriter is a sought-after position in sports journalism. Writers are expected to collect information on various sporting topics for newspapers, online portals, and magazines. They give comprehensive previews of upcoming events and post-game analysis. They are up-to-date with live scores, team rankings, and player statistics. This is a good career for those with in-depth sports knowledge. The main newspapers cover local and national sports for digital and printed media. It is a useful experience when starting as a writer to write a blog on sports or work as a freelancer. The big sports networks have a strong online presence and use writers to create blogs, narrative sports pieces, and articles.
Sports broadcaster
This occupation requires a passion for sports, an understanding of the related language and terminology, good communication skills, and excellent research ability. Sports broadcasters deliver live coverage and analysis of sports events on television and radio. Live broadcasters interview sports professionals during matches, and production staff monitor and edit the broadcast. This role requires superior communication skills and the confidence to address live audiences. A journalist in this role will become very involved in sporting activity, including meeting and interviewing the players.
Sports photographer
Photographers visually record great sporting moments. They help in the promotional activities of a brand and take pictures for newspapers, online sports blogs, sports magazines, and television. They capture the sport in action for broadcasts, posts, and articles. Photography is often included in these publications to visually represent the sport. They take action photos of players at live sporting events and stills of players and coaches before, during, and after a game. They want to create images that tell a story and resonate with viewers. They need to develop professional relationships and establish connections that will increase the number of photographs they get published. Most sports photographers work freelance and run all aspects of their business.
Sports editor
This job involves working as a newspaper editor focusing on news about sports. The editor assigns stories to reporters, guides trainees and sub-editors, edits and proofreads sports stories, and ensures accurate news coverage. The editor ultimately decides what to publish for the organization. As an editor, it is essential to be up-to-date with the news each day and any sporting events as they happen. An editor needs editing and writing skills with a focus on strong journalistic reporting. They travel quite often as they may need to interview athletes or attend sporting events.
Digital sports journalist
This involves working with content that is distributed over the internet rather than by broadcast or print. Technology has changed the way people access sports news and analysis, and sports journalists can now reach a wider audience by providing up-to-date news and expert analysis through social media, websites, blogs, and podcasts. An advantage of digital sports journalism is the ability to immediately provide live reports. Using sites such as Twitter and Instagram allow sports journalists to give quick insights and updates on the latest sporting news. Data analytics means journalists can give their audience statistics and insights that might previously have been unavailable.
Conclusion
Sports journalism differs from other journalism in that it only focuses on sport. There are several types of sports journalism, but they all have the same purpose of providing authentic sports coverage. Sports journalism can be a great choice for sports enthusiasts who want to work in the field. For those who love sports, have strong writing skills, and are willing to work hard, this can be a rewarding and prosperous career. With so many facets to this challenging occupation, it entails continual learning and upskilling and could never be considered boring. As well as communicating to their audience, sportswriters learn more about sports all the time and develop an in-depth knowledge of their subject.
