Jason Fry
Jason Fry says writers who offer the best perspectives are the ones that are the most relevant in today’s multimedia world. Fry, writing for Indiana University’s sports journalism blog, writes that fans usually follow a process similar to this.
- Watch game.
- Get basic details online
- Read recap from local media
- Watch highlights on TV at ESPN, MLB Network or local media.
After this, fans seek perspective – wise appraisals, historical significance, entertaining word play, statistical analysis, and game analysis. Fans continue to seek information and perspective until they are satisfied, writes Fry:
But I think it’s fair to say that the Web encourages a relatively new way of reading: one that begins with searching for information and ends with a reader diving into an event until he or she feels sated.
So learn as much as you can about as many sports by chatting with coaches off the record about strategy, attending practices, and reading voraciously about teams, sports, and athletes. Covering a beat is also essential. Unless you’ve done some reporting and research, your perspective won’t be worth reading, really. And, clearly, perspective is something fans really desire.
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 