· This site dealt with the lack and rise of African American journalists today, it dated back to African American athletes that are the most covered athletes, and however there seems to be a lack in African American journalists. The author of this article claims that due to the lack of diversity, there is an inaccurate view of African American athletes.
· This site discussed the keys and main ideas to writing sports journalism. Of course the game is important, but aside from the game you have to look for focal points of the teams. Maybe the team is trading a player or one of the players maybe a candidate for MVP. There is always an inside story to the game you are covering.
· This article was similar to the second source however it gave what aspects of the story should be included from a fans perspective. Also quotes from players and coaches’ help illuminate situations that a fan may not believe your opinion on however if it is a quote then it is true and the fan will believe your work.
Through these articles I have learned that a focal point must be identified in order to write a successful sports story. This focal point may be hard to identify, but it does indeed exist. Also quotes from players and coaches help illuminate unfamiliar situations that need explained. There really is no difference in sports journalism compared to just writing a story, the format is the same, but the information is displayed differently to best suit the reader. The lead or intro to the story is still vital in drawing attention to your article as is the one line puncher that can be a cliché but must be clever in order to cap of the story and add your own spice to the story. I think that due to my background in sports I have a familiarity with what needs to be covered concerning sports in general. 
For my shadow for this genre of journalism I decided to follow Rick Reilly of ESPN the Magazine. I decided to choose Reilly because I was aware of his ability to draw readers into an interesting story. His ability to cover all types of sports is like no other and he has been named Sportswriter of the Year 11 times. Reilly loves sports because how unpredictable it can be and how business driven it is. By this he means that just because you are the son of a famous athlete does not guarantee your future with the same sport. I like Reilly’s enthusiasm when it comes to sports and I believe he has one of the best views due to his years of experience in writing about sports. 
I also really admired the work of ESPN columnist Bill Simmons who appeared to have a background in more than just sports. Through his work he was able to relate sports to everyday life for someone that was distant from sports. I’m really impressed with the authors’ ability to connect to his reader using similar experiences in our society today. Simmons also used statistics to prove his hypothesis in the story which is important if you want your readers to agree with your article with facts. What I’ve learned so far...
Through all of my research so far I have learned that sports journalism is really no different than any other form. The journalist is constantly searching for a conflict on the field or court that is simultaneous with the game. Rivalries, trades, releases, and personal life have an influence with the athletes playing the game. There is always a focal point similar to the ones I mentioned. In my writing I will try to connect with the reader to the best of my ability with an experience he or she should know about. I’ll then highlight the single focal point that illuminates the story and draws the reader in. I plan on writing a basketball story and locating what seems to be what everyone knows about, but yet needs more explaining to the public.
Sports Photography
Also to go along with a story is the photo that goes along with that story. Finding the right picture may take time, but once found can send a powerful message to its audience? I was really impressed with the coverage from SI and the photos from their people. This one in particular I found was a perfect action shot to go along with a headline about the game. If I were to choose this picture my headline would be “Ravens fly over Chiefs” or “Baltimore rises over Chiefs” something that would fit the picture and satisfy the story.
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| Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images |
This picture would fit perfect with the story of the game about how the New Orleans Saints were going to blow out the Seahawks, but the Seahawks were able to pull out a playoff victory and also gain some confidence in the process. My headline for this story would be “Miracles do come true” “Seahawks shock the World” “Seahawks fly high” something clever that indicates to the audience that this was unexpected occurrence in sports, but its something that we all wanted to happen. To see the underdog in sports come out and beat the defending champs. Sports are about the unexpected which makes this story the perfect one for any true sports fan.
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| Photo: Otto Greule, Jr./Getty Images |
One of the best sources for sports news has always been ESPN, its constant growth is like no other and it’s reporting is one of the best. The large team stretches across the country to cover all sports even international. To me they are so successful because of their testimonies from former players who can actually relate to the game rather than journalists. These people at ESPN are the best sports reporters in the business and that’s why they’re the worldwide leader in sports today.
