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SPORTSWRITING

SPORTSWRITING. Or. How to write like Phil Musick Who? . Qualities of sports writing. or How to break most of the rules you’ve just learned. Be objective, but….root for the home team. Be descriptive. Use colorful language.

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SPORTSWRITING

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  1. SPORTSWRITING Or How to write like Phil Musick Who?

  2. Qualities of sports writing. or How to break most of the rules you’ve just learned. • Be objective, but….root for the home team. • Be descriptive. Use colorful language. • Be very aware of everything. Or it’s really not important who wins the game. • Be opinionated. They really want to know.

  3. Do’s and Don’ts of Slanguage • Do use original, colorful words and phrases. • Do distinguish between legitimate slang and jargon (birdie, eagle, strike out) and sports clichés. (split the uprights, local gridiron) • Do use the actual explanatory word or phrase as much as possible: Homerun, not cleared the bases; wrestlers, not grapplers. • Don’t use forty different verbs for lost or won.

  4. Know your stuff! Immerseyourself in the sport • Go to the games • Watch TV coverage • Listen to radio play by play • Talk sports with friends

  5. Sports coverage Cover every sport • Girls’ sports as well as boys’ • Lacrosse as well as football • Losing teams as well as winning teams. • In-house sports as well as WPIAL. • Recreational sports as well as school sports

  6. So many sports; so little space!OrHow to cover it all. • Sports shorts---brief articles that capture relevant information; provide record of events. • Boxes: report scoring records (wins and losses) • Highlights only

  7. Understanding Sports • Learn the rules • Learn the strategies • Learn the reasons behind the rules and the strategies. • Get to know coaches and players. • inside information • interviews

  8. Sports features Articles that highlight the personal side of sports (personality profiles, human interest, • Examples: Bowler who grew up in the “allies” • Son of basketball coach—pressures, perks • Girl playing football • Trainer-types of injuries, most serious etc. • Oldest alumni football, baseball star • Coach who played for the school • What is lacrosse, rugby, ultimate frisbee? • What

  9. Sportswriting: The good • Can be more partisan (for the hometeam) • Can interpret more than news reporters • Can explain the tension, color, excitement • Can include writer’s perspective • Can use more colorful language

  10. Sportswriting: The Bad • Must avoid slanguage (jargon, cliches specific to sports) P. 285 • Must know and understand the sport • Must cover all teams • Must cover all records

  11. Pregame Stories • Gather information on opposing teams • What was last year’s score? • What is the condition of the athletes? • Who are the key athletes/who is on starting lineup? • Comments on style of play • Importance of event to the school

  12. Game Story • Take detailed, accurate notes • Watch for turning points • Develop easy to read note taking system • Analyze the story • May write in a partisan or biased fashion; cannot be cheerleader. • May be less more specific in details of game; must include important details (score)

  13. Post Game stories • Also called sideline story • Offers chance to untangle confusing events—call by ref; what happened to a player; any injuries • Tone and lead—more feature, can start with a story or a quote • Should be colorful and vivid like pre-game and game stories

  14. What about quotations? • Should be pertinent to the game or contest • Should not highlight only star players • Must have quote from coach

  15. How to gather information for sports articles • Scores: http://www.msasportsnetwork.com/ • Letters sent to coaches of opposing teams or editors of opposing school’s newspapers • Ask : how many returning varsity players • how many starters lost from team • size, weight, position and year in school of players • strengths and weaknesses

  16. Photos • Action, action we want Action

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