Summary
Highlights
Sports writing is a category of journalism that focuses on sports, athletes, or other related topics using creative nonfiction. A sports writer reports and calls games, emphasizing preparation, anticipation, and observation. The goal is to provide an immersive experience for the reader, transporting them to the event.
Key elements of a sports article include game highlights, team names, the type of sport, the final score or outcome, and the time and venue of the game. It's crucial to focus on an athlete's actions to create a relatable human element in the story, as drama is inherent in sports.
A straight lead game story uses an inverted pyramid structure, providing an overview of the game's impact or results, including who won, the score, and key player actions. Unlike regular news, it uses more action verbs and sports jargon. Headlines should follow an SVO format (Subject-Verb-Object) with the verb in the present tense and active form.
This type offers readers a distinct perspective beyond typical game highlights. It's preferred by professional sports writers as it provides details not immediately obvious. Feature game stories delve into the 'what you didn't see' aspects before, during, or after a game, rather than just the scores.
In contrast to a feature game story, a profile story focuses on a specific character, such as a player or coach, highlighting their remarkable experiences. This could be a young athlete rising through the ranks or a powerful coach, delving into their personal journey and impact.
These stories are published either before an upcoming season or after it concludes. They offer a comprehensive overview of the season, sharing expectations from coaches and players. They cover how teams and individuals feel at the start, during, or end of a season, summarizing events rather than focusing on specific game details.
Column stories allow sports writers to express their opinions, raise questions about what went wrong, or discuss what could have been done differently. They might contain rants about individuals or teams not meeting expectations, or praise for a team, player, or coach they admire, as long as it's game-related.
The video concludes by summarizing the types of sports writing covered and encourages aspiring journalists. The instructor leaves a motivational quote: 'You can win or lose in anyone's story, but remember that you are your own champion and you can start to write your own victory.'