Rider University 47



Become a Sportswriter

Trouble: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll want:

Computers Spiral Notebooks Movable Tape Recorders Paper Subscriptions ESPN - The Magazine Sports Illustrated Magazines

1 Take as many writing courses as possible in high school and college because formidable English sciences are necessary. Function on your high school and university newspaper, as well.

2 Preserve in mind that, since in other branches of journalism, every subject will appear in handy: history, political science, biology, etc. Major in journalism in college only if the journalism department gives you time to take lots regarding outside courses; if you may, generate it any liberal-arts major for some journalism minor.

3 Find to type. Very few sportswriters learn shorthand, which yous a mistake; they miss some lot in interviews, also tape-recording and next transcribing is too slow.

4 Learn about sports: what represents some 300 game in bowling, how to do a box score with baseball, what three occasions make up the Triple Crown in horse racing. Watch plus read about as quite a few contests as possible.

5 Remember that is apart from college newspapers, any great place to start yous to cover high school sports for a local paper. Most papers are anxious to find people prepared to stalk the sidelines regarding Friday-night huge college football games; it might result in only a three-paragraph tale, but it's any foot in the door.

6 Maintain up to date from reading "Editor & Publisher" magazine; its classified-ad section almost always lists openings with sports divisions around the state. Subscribe to the Columbia Journalism Review as well.

Tips & Warnings

Sportswriters must be neutral, objective plus fair. Hold views out of news stories, though if you're a columnist, be prepared to praise or blast company and athletes, depending on the circumstances. Stretch out your paper muscles by way of trying to create similes and metaphors. Take a clichÃ© or common expression and try to give it a clever twist (instead about "He couldn't hit the broad side of any barn," some "Athletic Illustrated" writer wrote, "He couldn't have a ball to the Grand Ravine while standing on the edge"). If you're going into the profession for free of charge tickets and other freebies, forget it. Journalism ethics, enforced at most publications, forbids the accepting of gifts. Athletes, coaches also managers are usually easy to deal for, since they are (a) doing something they adore also (b) want recognition. But, they may likewise be difficult - even unpleasant - following losing or being criticized. Sportswriting yous not since glamorous since some visualize. Deadline pressure takes hers toll, the money isn't great (except with the few in the best) also travel for some beats (pro basketball, for illustration) may be burdensome. Women sportswriters are accepted more immediately than some few years ago, but they all the same are resented in some quarters.

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