You know you’re being controversial when someone in the audience accuses you of aligning with Skynet, the robotic force that nearly destroys the world in the movie “Terminator.”
But that was the case in St. Louis this morning here at the Mid-American Press Institute sports conference.
Challenging assumptions is never easy. Erik Smelser, who essentially directs online [...]
Jun
28
2010
28
2010
Controversial approach to sports journalism?
Jun
28
2010
28
2010
Publish your game stories online – always
Sometimes, I assume everybody’s on board when it comes to the Internet. I assume that most newspapers and college journalism programs realize how to use multimedia. And we all know what happens when one assumes.
Spoke with some college students here at the Mid-America Press Institute sports conference in St. Louis who shook their heads when asked [...]
Mar
29
2010
29
2010
Does your paper do enough to remain relevant?
So what are you doing to create ‘the‘ place where fans turn for sports news on your campus? Or do you feel cocky, believing no other media can beat you for sports coverage? But does that include your own sports information department, which is probably cranking out copy, developing resources, and posting links all over [...]
Jan
6
2010
6
2010
Sports staffs deliver terrific coverage ‘on break’
College sports journalists remain as busy as ever (despite being on holiday break from school) thanks to new media opportunities.
No longer do college staffs have to wait for students to return to campus and read old news in a print edition. Now, sports fans can receive updates on their favorite teams as easy as you [...]
Jan
1
2010
1
2010
Tweeting and live-blogging the Outback Bowl
The Daily Northwestern is covering the Outback Bowl live and online this afternoon, sending two reporters and a photographer to Tampa for the Wildcats’ football game against Auburn. The newspaper is live game-blogging (or glogging) with Cover It Live, a web-based tool that allows live commentary during any event, not unlike the the glogs offered [...]
Dec
4
2009
4
2009
Layer print stories with photos, audio
I’ve written about this terrific story by the Los Angeles Times‘ Kurt Streeter before (at www.onsports.wordpress.com). But I’ve never really talked about the multimedia package that accompanied the piece. Streeter tells the story behind this story of a young female boxer, narrating as a slide show reveals the girl and her father in East Los [...]
Nov
9
2009
9
2009
E-mail sports updates daily
The Washington Post does a terrific job offering sports updates through the day. And they also understand when most fans check for sports news – morning and during lunch. So the Post offers an additional helping of sports news around noon each day. SceneDaily also offers daily updates that are emailed to readers (usually in [...]
Sep
9
2009
9
2009
More models for online reporting
The Roanoke Times did a tremendous job covering the Hellgate 100K race through the mountains of western Virginia. Yes, that’s right – 66 miles. And the course elevates 13,000 feet over the peaks of the Jefferson National Forest. Check this out for some suggestions for covering events on, and around, your campus.
The St. Petersburg Times [...]
Sep
4
2009
4
2009
Models for online sports coverage
Some more online sports coverage ideas.
Create a preview game package online. That’s what the Columbus Dispatch does for the Ohio State football team, something that should be a model for all sports departments. This package includes a cover story, profiles on players from each team, five keys to winning, [...]
Sep
2
2009
2
2009
Papers expand sports coverage beyond games
Here is the first in a series of glimpses at how newspapers are expanding sports coverage through new media.
Create a database. The Indianapolis Star compiled every result and stat from every game Indiana University has ever played, something that includes the Hoosiers’ overall record against every team played. You can compile [...]
How best to turn yourself from sports fan to professional sports journalist? Quickly moving beyond general guidance about sports writing, Joe Gisondi focuses on the nitty-gritty, with hands-on, practical advice on covering 20 specific sports. From auto racing to wrestling, you’ll find tips on the seemingly straightforward—where to stand on the sideline and how to identify a key player—along with the more specialized—figuring out shot selection in lacrosse and understanding a coxswain’s call for a harder stroke in rowing. Preparing you for just about any game, match, meet, race, regatta or tournament you’re likely to cover, Field Guide to Covering Sports is the ideal go-to resource to have on hand as you master the beat. You can 