SPORTSWhy we gotta know how to cover sports

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-

viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-

viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

Second most-popular section of newspapers

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-

viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

Second most-popular section of newspapers

What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.?

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-

viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

Second most-popular section of newspapers

What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-

viewed events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

Second most-popular section of newspapers

What are the five most popular spectator sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey

Most popular internationally?

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Sports are the typically the most-viewed

events on television: 111 million tuned for 2011 Super Bowl

Second most-popular section of newspapers What are the five most popular spectator

sports in the U.S.? Football, NASCAR, baseball, basketball, hockey

Most popular internationally? Soccer, cricket, field hockey, tennis, volleyball

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics

It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics

It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.

Most valuable sports team in world?

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS NEWS Most popular participant sport in U.S.?

Bowling, fitness walking, tennis, golf, aerobics

It’s big business: consumer spending on sports likely tops $50 billion in U.S.

Most valuable sports team in world? Manchester United, worth $1.8 billion

COVERING SPORTS

GAME STORIES Most of what you’ll write are game

stories: West Florida Christian vs Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Riverview, Sarasota Scullers regatta, Eddie Herr tennis tournament, FHSAA golf tournament, spring training games

GAME STORIES Most of what you’ll write are game

stories: West Florida Christian vs Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Riverview, Sarasota Scullers regatta, Eddie Herr tennis tournament, FHSAA golf tournament, spring training games

Game stories are news reports about who won and how the action unfolded

GAME STORIES Most of what you’ll write are game

stories: West Florida Christian vs Miami Heat, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Riverview, Sarasota Scullers regatta, Eddie Herr tennis tournament, FHSAA golf tournament, spring training games

Game stories are news reports about who won and how the action unfolded

Ideally, the reporter is on hand

GAME STORIES You’ll witness game, interview

participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics

GAME STORIES You’ll witness game, interview

participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics

Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede

GAME STORIES You’ll witness game, interview

participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics

Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede

“West Florida Christian, led by the Irvin brothers, thumped the Orlando Magic on Monday night 107-49.”

GAME STORIES You’ll witness game, interview

participants, note crowd reactions, compile statistics

Typically use a summary, inverted pyramid lede

“West Florida Christian, led by the Irvin brothers, thumped the Orlando Magic on Monday night 107-49.”

Thousands of variations of game day stories... from simple IP to more feature like

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious Where and when

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious Where and when Key players and plays

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious Where and when Key players and plays Quotes

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious Where and when Key players and plays Quotes Strategies that affected outcome

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Final score Team names and type of sport if not

obvious Where and when Key players and plays Quotes Strategies that affected outcome Stats

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Injuries

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Injuries Records

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Injuries Records What game means

THINGS YOUR GAME STORY NEEDS Injuries Records What game means Color: weather, crowd size and

demeanor, celebs in attendance

ADVANCE STORY

ADVANCE STORY Story written in advance of a big

game... e.g., Super Bowl

ADVANCE STORY Story written in advance of a big

game... e.g., Super Bowl Significance of game, history, key

players, records and momentum, quotes, strategies, injuries, who’s favored, time and tix info

FEATURES Can write features on just about any

aspect of sports

FEATURES Can write features on just about any

aspect of sports Most common are personality profiles

COLUMNS

COLUMNS You are paid to be opinionated... and to

get fans riled up

ASSIGNMENT FOR FEBRUARY 7 Read and study pages 111-125 of

Inside Reporting