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(Sports) Journalism 101

(Sports) Journalism 101. The Most Basic Basics Sports Journalism in the Internet Age Tufts - Ex-College - Fall 2010 Week 2. Journalism Basics. Journalistic writing differs from academic writing.

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(Sports) Journalism 101

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  1. (Sports) Journalism 101 The Most Basic Basics Sports Journalism in the Internet Age Tufts - Ex-College - Fall 2010 Week 2

  2. Journalism Basics • Journalistic writing differs from academic writing. • In journalism, it is not about using a lot of big words and flowery language to impress people. Journalism should be easy to read and follow. • Longer does not automatically equal better. • Most newspapers are written at a high-school reading level.

  3. Terminology • Lede – the introduction of a story. The first few grafs. This is what sets a story up and pulls readers in. Sometimes, written “lead.” • Graf – paragraph. • Nut graf – the graf or grafs that sum up what the purpose of the story is. Why it’s being told. What the information the writer is trying to convey. • Copy – the written text of a story.

  4. Types of Ledes • Hard lede – Straightforward. Gets to the information in right away. Often referred to as AP lede because almost all AP stories have hard ledes. • Anecdotal lede – Sets the piece up with a short story. • Scene-setter – Sets the scene. • Question lede – Opens by posing/asking a question.

  5. Types of Ledes to Avoid • Quote lede – Opens with a quote. • Buried lede – when the engaging part of a story, the part the writer probably should have started with, is further down in the piece, or “buried” in the article.

  6. Types of Stories • Hard news stories – breaking news of the day. Very timely. Not a lot of room for creativity. No opinion. This is often the standard news story you would expect to see on the front page. • Game/event stories. • Features – less time-sensitive than hard news stories. Can be tied to an event in terms of timeliness or can be completely timeless. • Columns – Opinion pieces.

  7. Some Journalism Basics • Do not miss deadline. Ever. Ever. EVER. • Always check spelling of names, teams, places, etc. Then check them again. • With the invention of spell check, there’s no excuse for having words spelled wrong. • Never trust your memory for facts. Confirm that information. Double-check stats.

  8. Some Journalism Basics • Clean copy will make you an editor’s favorite writer. • Do not use three words when one will do. • Closer Dave Simms was able to put the game away. • Closer Dave Simms put the game away. • Bennett pitched seven innings of shutout ball. • Bennett pitched seven shutout innings.

  9. Some Journalism Basics • Some things will be obvious by context. • The Spartans beat the Trojans 3-0 in the game on Wednesday night. • The Spartans beat the Trojans 3-0 on Wednesday night. • Sea City pitcher Phil Bennett struck out four Tucson batters. • Sea City pitcher Phil Bennett struck out four.

  10. Some Journalism Basics • When quoting, try to put the speaker’s name before said. PREFERRED: “The offensive line played a great game,” quarterback Peyton Manning said. AVOID: “The offensive line played a great game,” said quarterback Peyton Manning. • Use full name on first reference. Then last name throughout.

  11. Some Journalism Basics • Structure news stories with essential information high (early) in the story. • For example, in a game story, the score should always be in the first graf, if not the first sentence. • Inverted pyramid – a way of structuring a story so the most important information is at the top and information gets progressively less central to the story.

  12. AP Style • Comes from the Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. • Style and usage guide used by newspapers and in the news industry in the United States. It is the basis for virtually every news publication’s style – when to capitalize, use numerals, preferred spellings and abbreviation. • Some papers/sites have their own additional style guides. But the basis for those is going to be AP.

  13. AP Style • Considered the Bible of journalism. The industry standard. • If you have any interest in becoming a journalist, buy and learn the AP Stylebook.

  14. AP Style 101(The Sports Reporter’s Version)

  15. Numbers • Spell out one through nine. Use numerals for numbers 10 and up.

  16. Number Exceptions • Games in a series • (Game 1, Game 2, Game 3) • Numbers with decimal points • 4.2 points per game, 2.45 ERA • Football yardage • Brady threw a 5-yard pass. • Bush rushed for 3 yards.

  17. Number Exceptions • Made vs. Attempted • Paul Pierce was 3-of-6 at the free throw line. • Joe Mauer went 2-for-5 against Cleveland. • Records • The Raiders fell to 0-8 on the season. • After going 3-0 in July, Johan Santana went 2-4 in August.

  18. Number Exceptions • Scores and series records are always numbers. • Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0. • The Saints beat the Vikings 14-9. • The Lakers lead the season series with the Celtics 3-2. • Toronto FC sits in third place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 7-9-7 record. • Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the US Open semifinal.

  19. Other Style and Usage Notes • Alternate city and team names in a story. • Give team name and city on first reference. • The Boston Celtics signed Shaquille O’Neal in August. • Spell out positions. • Shortstop (not SS). Running back (not RB).

  20. Grammar Basics

  21. Common Grammar Mistakes • Use a hyphen when a figure is used as an modifier. • Brees threw a 5-yard pass. (modifying pass) • Brees threw for 5 yards. (giving a distance) • Ramirez hit a 420-foot home run. • Ramirez home run went for 420 feet.

  22. Plural vs. Singular • Cities are singular. • New York leads the AL East. • Many feel Miami is the team to beat in the NBA. • Teams are plural. • The Yankees lead the AL East. • Many feel the Heat are the team to be in the NBA. Note: Even when a team has a singular name – Jazz, Avalanche, etc. – it is used as a plural noun.

  23. Plural vs. Singular • Differentiate between its and their. • Cincinnati headed back to its locker room at the half, trailing 7-0. • The Bengals headed back to their locker room at the half, trailing 7-0. • A team is an its. A club is an its. CORRECT: Is a team responsible for the behavior of its players? INCORRECT: Is a team responsible for the behavior of their players?

  24. Other Common Mistakes • its (possessive) • it’s (it is) • their (possessive) • there (location) • they’re (they are)

  25. One Word vs. Two Words

  26. Noun: One Word, Verb: Two

  27. Commonly Misspelled Words (When in doubt, do a Google search to see what AP uses.)

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