Sports Journalist and writing Skills
Introduction
There was a time when sports journalism was dismissed as the 'toy department' by some disparaging news
desks. Yet ever since television began beaming sports events into people's homes the sector has grown in
relevance and with it the importance of the sports writer. Fans spend thousands on travel and season
tickets; companies spend millions on advertising or television rights; governments spend billions on
infrastructure for international events.
Sports writers work to some of the tightest deadlines in journalism and are still expected to uphold
all the same professional, legal and ethical standards, so having that solid foundation of what it
means to be a reporter is fundamental. Sports reporting could take a journalist anywhere. The skills
and knowledge for journalists are exactly the same as sports journalists
Requirements of a Sports Journalist
1. A sports journalist is required to have complete awareness about media laws & regulations.
2. A sports journalist is required to have knowledge about Shorthand writing so that he can write
quickly.
3. A sports journalist is required to have complete knowledge over specific Sport , its rules and its
importance.
4. A sports journalist is required to have knowledge over the venue where the sport in being played he
should know its historicity, its inheritance, its importance as avenue for play
5. A sports journalist is required to have knowledge about Spectators viewpoints / demands of the
fans.
6. A sports journalist is required to have knowledge about newly designed Sport policy.
7. A sports journalist is required to have information about Sport organizations policy / frameworks
schedule of play, sporting tactics involved etc
8. A sports journalist is required to have Passion towards work & dedication as a sports journalist.
Unless a sports journalist displays these qualities he will not be able to become a good sport journalist
9. It involves travelling hence he should be able to consider his travelling to gather information
about the venue player s personal thoughts the opinion of the experts etc.,
He should be tactical in collecting these information as he would be very much interested to include these
things in his report about the sporting event
10. He would be very much blame for writing analytical hence several sports journalist try to woo the
player / organization by writing / reporting in a regular way but journalism involves critical approach as
well he should be knowing the loophole of the team like lack of training , lack of cohesion among
players / coaches , tussles with players or sporting organizations which might have negative effects of
performances
11. A sports journalist carriers a lot of good ethical messages & respectability to his country meant
hence he should not be biased he should be direct & not a sycophant.
Work nature of a journalist
1. Interviewing players / coaches / sporting club officials
2. Covering live sport events with gusto
3. Reporting over TV in local / English language / multiple languages
4. Participating in sports debates over TV or media
5. Attending sports press meets
6. Reading sports columns regularly
7. Gaining the traditional and new media skills needed to work in sports journalism.
8. Learn how to manage print, broadcast, online and social media
9. Benefit from links to major broadcasting and newspaper organizations and major sports clubs.
10. Gaining work placements at sports organizations and media sports department
Sports Journalism Ethics
The following ethics are needed while reporting / writing on sporting events:
Not interfering with the personal life of a player
Not criticizing the player with vengeance
Not blaming the specific player for poor performance of the team
Not writing about personal desires, food, fashion details of the player
Not pointing to the marital / other status of the player which would harm his performance
Not retaliating against any player through writings
Not using high sycophancy words for a selected player.
Not over focusing any single player
Not intervening in organizational matters
Not forsaking ethical values for money
