Sports

One thing all journalists should consider when sitting down to write a story is their responsibility to the public as a gatekeeper of information.

Reporters and editors are charged with the challenging task of deciding what information will be served up for public consumption and what won't. Basically, reporters and editors decide what is important and worthy of consideration and what is not. Just as importantly, they also decide the manner in which it is presented.

Such is a task that should be taken seriously.

- Terry Wood, sports editor, Northwest Arkansas Times

   Good sports writing requires good writing, including writing in consistent AP style and grammar and learning how to spell and avoid sports cliches. Sports stories can range from an event like a track meet, a novel sport like disc golf , spelunking or a truck rodeo, or novel aspects of a known sport like hockey. They might focus on different angles like a historical event, call to action, stress or eating right. If you're covering a weekly sporting event, you might try this template.

   Whether you're covering Little League Baseball, the Gulf South Conference or the SEC, the basic premise remains the same. Write a concise story detailing what happened and what the consequences are from that happening. Learning the ropes now may get you a job at CNN/SI or ESPN later.

   By Thursday, find a sports story in either a print or online newspaper. Make copies for everyone in class, including Dr. Sitton. Come prepared to lead the class through your article, answering the question "How well written is this sports story?" Your presentation will focus on where the writer answers or does not answer the following questions:

1. What were the winning and losing strategies?
2. What were the real turning points in the contest?
3. What remarkable individual efforts were behind the outcome, i.e. how did star athletes perform?
4. What other factors influenced the outcome (weather, injuries, coaching decisions, officiating?
5. What key statistical elements did the writer choose to include?
6. What is the look-ahead angle?

When preparing to write your sports article, heed these suggestions for sports writers.

1. Use as many names in your articles as possible.
2. Place special emphasis on the future.
3. Edit your articles before publication; make every word count; be concise.
4. Keep a file of statistics and records; consult them frequently.
5. Know the rules of the sport you cover so that you can explain the “why” for the fan.
6. Know the jargon of the sport you cover to completely understand the event. However, use jargon sparingly in your articles.
7. Be factually correct.
8. Stress action in your articles, in content and style of writing; relatively short, crisp sentences help; avoid “kitchen sink” run-on sentences. Remember: newspaper articles feature paragraphs of two or three sentences.
9. Study sports pages and sports articles of professional writers (one of the best ways to learn); don’t copy the writer’s style, but seek guidelines in developing your own style.
10. Be careful of overplaying the “hero;” be alert to good performances by others not as well known. Emphasize these contributors.
11. Avoid discussing a team impersonally; remember, all teams are made up of individuals; when discussing individuals, you’re also talking about the team.
12. Realize sports not only includes football, baseball and basketball, but also track, cross-country, golf, tennis, volleyball, etc. Sports pages must emphasize these as well.
13. Remember sports fans absolutely love statistics.
14. Don’t be afraid to criticize, but do so with caution and respect.

Elements of interest in sports articles

1. Significance
a. Is a championship at stake?
b. Effects of result on all-time records of contestants
c. Effects of result on season’s records of contestants
d. Are contestants old rivals?
e. Are they resuming contests after a long layoff?
f. Will the outcome suggest either contestant’s strength against future opponents?

 2. Probable outcome
a. Relative weight and experience of contestants
b. Ability as demonstrated against other opponents, especially common ones
c. Improvement during season
d. New plays, tactics, etc.
e. New players, return of injured players, strength of substitutes, etc.
f. Former contests between two contestants
g. Weather conditions favorable to either contestant
h. Lack of practice, injuries and other handicaps
i. Tradition of not being able to win away from home
j. Recent record, slumps

 3. How victory was won
a. The winning play, if score was close
b. The style of play of both winner and loser
c. Costly errors and mistakes of judgment
d. Spurts which overcame opponent’s lead 

4. Important plays
a. How each score was made
b. Spectacular catches, etc.
c. The result of “hunches”
d. Penalties, fouls, etc.
e. Disputed decisions of umpire or referee 

5. Individual records, stars, etc.
a. Records broken
b. High scores
c. Players who delivered in pinches
d. Teamwork
e. Players not up to usual form 

6. Injuries

7. The occasion of the crowd
a. Size of crowd; a record?
b. An annual event?
c. Enthusiasm, riots, demonstrations, etc. 

8. The weather
a. Condition of playing field
b. Effect of heat or cold
c. Effect of sun on fielders
d. Which side was handicapped? Why?
e. Delays because of rain, etc.

 9. Box score, summary and statistics

Special thanks to Dr. Donna Edsall, Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio and the Arkansas State University newspaper for contributing to this Web page

If you don't understand something in this Web note, please e-mail Dr. Sitton.