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Field Guide to Covering Sports
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Field Guide to Covering Sports

Second Edition
August 2017 | 416 pages | CQ Press
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Transform yourself from sports fan to professional sports journalist

 

Field Guide to Covering Sports, Second Edition goes beyond general guidance about sports writing, offering readers practical advice on covering 20 specific sports. From auto racing to wrestling, author Joe Gisondi gives tips on the seemingly straightforward—like where to stand on the sideline and how to identify a key player—along with the more specialized—such as figuring out shot selection in lacrosse and understanding a coxswain’s call for a harder stroke in rowing.

 

In the new Second Edition, readers also explore sports reporting across multimedia platforms, developing a foundational understanding for social media, mobile media, visual storytelling, writing for television and radio, and applying sabermetrics. Fully revised with new examples and updated information to give readers confidence in covering just about any game, match, meet, race, regatta or tournament, Field Guide to Covering Sports, Second Edition is the ideal go-to resource to have on hand when mastering the beat. 

 

Get regularly updated sports journalism coverage, advice, and more by visiting the author’s blog.

 

 

Available with Perusall—an eBook that makes it easier to prepare for class
Perusall is an award-winning eBook platform featuring social annotation tools that allow students and instructors to collaboratively mark up and discuss their SAGE textbook. Backed by research and supported by technological innovations developed at Harvard University, this process of learning through collaborative annotation keeps your students engaged and makes teaching easier and more effective. Learn more. 

 
Foreword
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
PART I. GETTING STARTED
 
1. From Sports Fan to Sports Reporter
There’s No Cheering in the Press Box 3 5 6

 
Where Do You Start?

 
Clerking Is a Great Way to Learn

 
Reporting Is Essential in New Media Landscape

 
 
2. Writing Game Stories
Leads

 
Organization

 
Context and Analysis

 
Key Plays

 
Statistics

 
Quotations

 
Language

 
 
3. Getting the Most Out of an Interview
Journalism Is Not Stenography

 
Prepare

 
Watch

 
Ask

 
And Keep Asking

 
Sack the Clichéd Responses

 
 
4. Developing and Writing Features
Reporting Is Vital

 
Learn Storytelling Techniques

 
 
5. Developing Sports Columns
 
6. Blogging: Finding a Unique Perspective
Blogs Are Here to Stay

 
Carving a Niche

 
Tips for Blogging Sports

 
 
7. Using Advanced Statistical Metrics
Advanced Metrics Glossary

 
 
PART II. MULTIMEDIA
 
8. Social Media: Using Twitter as a Reporting Tool
 
9. Writing for Mobile Devices
Tips for Mobile

 
 
10. Visual Storytelling
Quick Tips for Improving Your Sports Photograph

 
 
11. Broadcasting Games on Radio
 
12. Writing for TV
 
PART III. COVERING A BEAT
 
Auto Racing
 
Baseball
 
Basketball
 
Bowling
 
Cross Country
 
Field Hockey
 
Football
 
Golf
 
Ice Hockey
 
Lacrosse
 
Rowing
 
Rugby
 
Soccer
 
Softball
 
Swimming & Diving
 
Tennis
 
Track and Field
 
Triathalons
 
Volleyball
 
Wrestling
 
PART IV. EXPLORING FURTHER
 
Primer A: Ethics: Sports Writers Can’t Act Like Fans
 
Primer B: Covering Fantasy Sports
 
Primer C: Covering a College Beat
 
Primer D: High School Sports
 
Primer E: Avoiding Clichés
 
Appendix: Assignment Desk
 
AP Style Sports Quizzes
 
Notes
 
Index
 
About the Author

No supplemental materials available (i.e. quizzes)

Mr Andrew Sturt
College of Media, Comm & Info, University Of Colorado-Boulder
December 16, 2019
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Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • Increased coverage of social media throughout the text as well as a dedicated new chapter provides readers with insights from real-life journalists on how to successfully use social media to cover sports.
  • New chapters on mobile media, visual storytelling, writing for television, and writing for radio empower readers to report sports across various multimedia platforms.
  • A new chapter on sabermetrics shows readers how to evaluate and compare the performance of players. 
  • A more in-depth chapter on ethics encourages readers to think critically about the human aspect of players and finding the right balance when covering sports.
  • Updated sport-by-sport examples and writing samples ensure readers stay current in the ever-changing world of sports.  
  • A new forward from Will Leitch, the founding editor of the Gawker Media sports blog Deadspin, captivates readers with personal insights about sports journalism in the 21st century.    

 KEY FEATURES:

  • The Prepare-Watch-Ask-Write approach in each sports chapter teach readers:

•               What to understand before play begins

•               What to look out for during competition

•               What to ask players and coaches

•               What essentials to include in your story

 

  • In addition to brief chapters on writing, interviewing, and blogging, readers also receive useful “primers” such as:

•               Knowing the APSE ethical guidelines

•               Avoiding clichés

•               Working with Sports Information Directors

•               Covering fantasy sports

•               Broadcasting on the radio

 

  • A series of annotated score cards shows readers how reporters can keep track of stats and details, and assignments at the end of the book get readers applying his/her new-found sports knowledge.
  • “Sports Insiders” include important tips based on author interviews with athletes, coaches and experienced sports reporters.
  • “Digital Assist” boxes showcase models to emulate when reporting with new media.

 

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: From Sports Fan to Sports Reporter

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