Sports MediaSports MediaComm 312Comm 312

September 20, 2007September 20, 2007

Russ MaloneyRuss Maloney

Problems with the ModelProblems with the Model

Writing Sports for BroadcastWriting Sports for Broadcast

Back to BasicsBack to Basics

What Makes a Good Story?What Makes a Good Story?

InformativeInformative

InterestingInteresting

AccurateAccurate

PertinentPertinent

Localization is key!Localization is key!

Questions to Ask?Questions to Ask?Who am I writing this story for (Audience)?Who am I writing this story for (Audience)?

What is the story about?What is the story about?

Why are we airing/printing this story ?Why are we airing/printing this story ?

Does the listener/viewer/reader care (So what Does the listener/viewer/reader care (So what test)?test)?

What are the other sides (Balance)?What are the other sides (Balance)?

What are the beginning and the end?What are the beginning and the end?

10 Rules for Sports Writing10 Rules for Sports Writing1.1. Use Active VoiceUse Active Voice

2.2. Use Proper GrammarUse Proper Grammar– Pronoun AgreementPronoun Agreement– Attribution Attribution

3.3. Use Simple Words and NumbersUse Simple Words and Numbers

4.4. Keep Writing Clean and SimpleKeep Writing Clean and Simple

5.5. Use Solid Reporting SkillsUse Solid Reporting Skills

10 Rules for Sports Writing10 Rules for Sports Writing6.6. Learn More than Just SportsLearn More than Just Sports

7.7. Remember CreativityRemember Creativity– Clichés Clichés

8.8. Humanize Your WritingHumanize Your Writing

9.9. Sometimes Less is MoreSometimes Less is More

10.10.Carefully Consider Outside ElementsCarefully Consider Outside Elements

Print WritingPrint Writing

Inverted PyramidInverted Pyramid

Story ConstructionStory ConstructionLeadLead– Get the Audience into the tent. Hook them! Get the Audience into the tent. Hook them!

Why should they listen?Why should they listen?

Body of the StoryBody of the Story– Deliver the message.Deliver the message.

TagTag– Leave the audience with something.Leave the audience with something.

Tricks of the TradeTricks of the Trade

"Tips are good, but worthless "Tips are good, but worthless unless you know why...If you unless you know why...If you don't know why you did don't know why you did something you're just lucky."something you're just lucky."

Three Important ConceptsThree Important Concepts

Subject-Verb-ObjectSubject-Verb-Object

Attribution Leads AssertionAttribution Leads Assertion

Active, not PassiveActive, not Passive

Broadcast: Broadcast: Attribution Leads AssertionAttribution Leads Assertion

Source says . . . Source says . . .

S-V-OS-V-O

Write the way you speak?Write the way you speak?

Passive VoicePassive Voice

The passive voice deadens, The passive voice deadens, complicates and lengthens broadcast complicates and lengthens broadcast writing.writing.

The passive voice involves the The passive voice involves the direction of the verb’s action (not to direction of the verb’s action (not to be confused with tense.) Passive be confused with tense.) Passive voice exists when the receiver of the voice exists when the receiver of the verb’s action precedes the verb.verb’s action precedes the verb.

Passive VoicePassive Voice

In order for a sentence to be passive, In order for a sentence to be passive, the following must exist . . .the following must exist . . .

– A verb phraseA verb phrase

– A form of the “to be” verb in the phraseA form of the “to be” verb in the phrase

– Receiver of the verb’s action precedes Receiver of the verb’s action precedes the verb.the verb.

Passive ExamplesPassive Examples

““The player was arrested by the sheriff.”The player was arrested by the sheriff.”

““The game was stopped during the The game was stopped during the storm.”storm.”

““The game was kicked off at noon.”The game was kicked off at noon.”

““The spotlight was focused on the star The spotlight was focused on the star player.”player.”

Passive to ActivePassive to ActiveSolutionsSolutions

Relocate the actorRelocate the actor

Identify and insert the missing actorIdentify and insert the missing actor

Change the verbChange the verb

Drop the “to be” verbDrop the “to be” verb

Passive SolutionsPassive Solutions““The player was arrested by the sheriff.”The player was arrested by the sheriff.”– ““The sheriff arrested the player.”The sheriff arrested the player.”

““The game was stopped during the storm.”The game was stopped during the storm.”– ““The umpire stopped the game during the The umpire stopped the game during the

storm.”storm.”

““The game was kicked off at noon.”The game was kicked off at noon.”– ““The game started at noon.”The game started at noon.”

““The spotlight was focused on the star The spotlight was focused on the star player.” player.” – ““The spotlight focused on the star player”The spotlight focused on the star player”

Advantages of the Active VoiceAdvantages of the Active Voice

Straight-Line MeaningStraight-Line Meaning

Tighter CopyTighter Copy

Complete ReportingComplete Reporting

More InterestingMore Interesting

Verb TenseVerb Tense

Present or PastPresent or Past

The LeadThe LeadThe first sentence in broadcast storiesThe first sentence in broadcast stories

– Must draw viewer’s/listener’s attentionMust draw viewer’s/listener’s attention

– Sets the tone for the storySets the tone for the story

– Includes many of the basic factsIncludes many of the basic facts

– Determines whether a story will be Determines whether a story will be heard/watchedheard/watched

Avoid ClichésAvoid Clichés

Best way to destroy good Best way to destroy good copy!copy!

Do’s and Don’tsDo’s and Don’ts

Lead WritingLead Writing

Good Leads Are . . .Good Leads Are . . .Factually accurate and correctFactually accurate and correct

In the active voiceIn the active voice

In the present or present perfect tensesIn the present or present perfect tenses– Watch for distorted present tenseWatch for distorted present tense

SimpleSimple

Complete and clearComplete and clear

Written to be read out loudWritten to be read out loud

Good leads . . .Good leads . . .Avoid commas and interruptivesAvoid commas and interruptives

Lack participial phrases or dependent clausesLack participial phrases or dependent clauses

Put attribution before assertionPut attribution before assertion

Follow S-V-OFollow S-V-O

Limit a sentence to one ideaLimit a sentence to one idea

Place the time element after the verbPlace the time element after the verb

Don’t follow newspaper constructionsDon’t follow newspaper constructions

Lead sentences do not . . . Lead sentences do not . . . Use prefabricated phrasesUse prefabricated phrases

Waste wordsWaste words

Use clichés Use clichés

Start with “There is” or “There are”Start with “There is” or “There are”

Include any form of the “to be verb”Include any form of the “to be verb”

Include “yesterday” Include “yesterday”

Include “continues” or “stillInclude “continues” or “still

Write to the VideoWrite to the VideoS-W-A-P: Synchronize Words And PicturesS-W-A-P: Synchronize Words And Pictures

Tell the story in a way that makes best use Tell the story in a way that makes best use of videoof video

Don’t directly describe understandable Don’t directly describe understandable picturespictures

Writing & video may tell more than one Writing & video may tell more than one story at a timestory at a time

Ending the StoryEnding the Story

Tell what happens next Tell what happens next

Provide a summaryProvide a summary

Tell the other side Tell the other side

Include a bit of interesting Include a bit of interesting informationinformation

Paper 2Paper 2

Watch a major sporting event this Watch a major sporting event this weekend weekend – NFL, CFB (D-1), MLB, High School NFL, CFB (D-1), MLB, High School

FootballFootball

Write 3 broadcast leads for the same Write 3 broadcast leads for the same game, using a different type of lead game, using a different type of lead for each (p. 80). Which lead works for each (p. 80). Which lead works best for this story? Why?best for this story? Why?