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Field Guide to Covering Sports
Second Edition
For my parents, whose love knew no bounds.
Field Guide to Covering Sports
Second Edition
Joe Gisondi
Eastern Illinois University
FOR INFORMATION:
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Copyright © 2018 by CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gisondi, Joe author.
Title: Field guide to covering sports / Joe Gisondi, Eastern Illinois University.
Description: Second edition. | Thousand Oaks, California : CQ Press/SAGE, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017009655 | ISBN 9781506315683 (spiral : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Sports journalism. | Sports journalism—Authorship.
Classification: LCC PN4784.S6 G58 2017 | DDC 070.4/49796—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017009655
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Acquisitions Editor: Terri Accomazzo
Editorial Assistant: Erik Helton
Production Editor: Andrew Olson
Copy Editor: Karin Rathert
Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd.
Proofreader: Caryne Brown
Indexer: Teddy Diggs
Cover Designer: Gail Buschman
Marketing Manager: Jillian Oelsen
Contents
1 Foreword
2 PrefaceAcknowledgments
3 PART I. GETTING STARTED1. From Sports Fan to Sports ReporterThere’s No Cheering in the Press BoxWhere Do You Start?Clerking Is a Great Way to LearnReporting Is Essential in New Media Landscape2. Writing Game StoriesLeadsOrganizationContext and AnalysisKey PlaysStatisticsQuotationsLanguage3. Getting the Most Out of an InterviewJournalism Is Not StenographyPrepareWatchAskAnd Keep AskingSack the Clichéd Responses4. Developing and Writing FeaturesReporting Is VitalLearn Storytelling Techniques5. Developing Sports Columns6. Blogging: Finding a Unique PerspectiveBlogs Are Here to StayCarving a NicheTips for Blogging Sports7. Using Advanced Statistical MetricsAdvanced Metrics Glossary
4 PART II. MULTIMEDIA8. Social Media: Using Twitter as a Reporting Tool9. Writing for Mobile DevicesTips for Mobile10. Visual StorytellingQuick Tips for Improving Your Sports Photograph11. Broadcasting Games on Radio12. Writing for TV
5 PART III. COVERING A BEATAuto RacingBaseballBasketballBowlingCross CountryField HockeyFootballGolfIce HockeyLacrosseRowingRugbySoccerSoftballSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldTriathlonsVolleyballWrestling
6 PART IV. EXPLORING FURTHERPrimer A: Ethics: Sports Writers Can’t Act Like FansPrimer B: Covering Fantasy SportsPrimer C: Covering a College BeatPrimer D: High School SportsPrimer E: Avoiding Clichés
8 Associated Press Sports Style Quizzes
9 Notes