Sports Journalism An Introduction to Reporting and Writing

by Stofer, Kathryn T.; Schaffer, James R.; Rosenthal, Brian A.

• ISBN13: 9780742561748
• ISBN10: 0742561747
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-15
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Sports Journalism introduces students to sports reporting careers and to the writing style sports writers and media relations professionals use. The book stresses the importance of basic writing fundamentals and high ethical standards, essential values for sports journalists. Introductory chapters acquaint readers with issues and challenges in an industry in transition changing technology, multimedia capability, citizen journalists and bloggers, shrinking news holes, and the deadline-dictated lifestyle of sports journalists. Skills chapters elaborate on news values and the conventions of journalism as they apply to sports writing. From leads to nut grafs, inverted pyramid to Model T, simple sentences to headlines, interviewing to using quotations, Sports Journalism focuses on the basics. The book expands the writer's experience into building relationships with sources and media contacts, using numbers and statistics, practicing AP style, and abiding by legal and ethical standards.

Author Biography

Kathryn T. Stofer is professor of communication arts at Hastings College. James R. Schaffer is professor of journalism at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Brian A. Rosenthal is a sports writer at the Lincoln Journal Star and has served as adjunct professor at Hastings College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Preface	p. xi
Living the Life	p. 1
Routine? What Routine?	p. 3
Take Down or Reversal?	p. 6
Covering the Game	p. 7
A New Kind of Sports Reporter	p. 8
Advance Stories	p. 11
Game Summary	p. 16
Post-Game Analysis	p. 23
Finding the Sources	p. 29
Beat Reporting	p. 30
Developing Sources	p. 31
Building Relationships with Sources	p. 49
Asking the Questions	p. 53
Interviewing Skills	p. 54
Asking the Right Questions	p. 58
Interview Settings	p. 62
Using Quotations	p. 65
Style, Placing Attribution	p. 69
Working with the Media	p. 81
Sports Information Directors	p. 82
Credential Requests	p. 88
News Releases	p. 88
Choosing the Words	p. 105
Journalistic Writing Style	p. 106
Proofreading	p. 128
Writing the Story	p. 133
Sports News Values	p. 134
Feature Stories	p. 141
Leads	p. 145
Nut Graf	p. 154
Story Structure	p. 157
Columns	p. 163
Following the Style	p. 171
AP Style	p. 171
Headlines	p. 174
Captions	p. 186
Libel and Other Legalities	p. 189
Making the Numbers Count	p. 201
Understanding the Game	p. 202
Interpreting the Game	p. 210
Feeding the Fans	p. 212
Dollars and Cents	p. 212
Arbitration Suits	p. 213
For the Record	p. 213
Highlighting the Greats	p. 217
Participatory Journalism	p. 218
Giants of the Past	p. 219
A More Muscular Prose	p. 222
Modern Masters	p. 224
AP Sports Guidelines and Style	p. 237
Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics	p. 261
Glossary of News and Sports Terms	p. 265
Index	p. 277
About the Authors	p. 287
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