When Dan Stupp was a journalism major and aspiring sports writer at the University of Missouri School of Journalism just shy of a decade ago, veteran newspaper professionals frowned at his decision to minor in new media technology. They even called him foolish. Those industry veterans said he should supplement the journalism degree with classes in political science, business or philosophy.
Stupp didn’t listen — and he is forever thankful. In that new media technology minor, Stupp learned to master Photoshop, how to produce Web videos, design and publish Web sites, manage digital photography, and create and animate 3-D images and videos. “When I left school with a journalism degree, I was so versatile, it led to many great opportunities,” said Stupp. Opportunities that 20 years ago — in some cases, even 10 years ago — didn’t even exist.
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Now 30, Stupp has eight years of professional experience as a sports writer. His experience includes working as the creative services manager/publications editor for the Cincinnati Reds, as a freelance baseball writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and as author of two books: Tom Browning’s Tales from the Reds Dugout and Opening Day at Great American Ball Park. He currently is the editor-in-chief and co-owner of MMAJunkie.com and the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) beat writer for the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio.
While technology has forever changed the media profession — and the career opportunities for people like Stupp – there are still some old school rules to live by for those aspiring sports writers.
Have realistic expectations
Don’t get into sports writing to become friends with the athletes, to get up close and personal with those you cover and write about, or to only cover the Super Bowl, World Series or NBA Finals. While a four-year journalism degree is the best way to get into the profession, internships and real-life experience through a school newspaper, a part-time or full-time opportunity with local dailies or weeklies, or through online media outlets can give you the experience editors crave. Most of all you have to enjoy writing, says Bryan Zollman, 35, co-publisher and news and sports editor for the Sauk Centre Herald in the northwest Minnesota. He covers local sports, with an emphasis on high school sports.
“Chances are when you start out, you will be driving to two or three games a night, catching tidbits here and there, getting a photo here or there,” says Zollman. “It is not an easy job. It can be lots of fun if you love to write about sports. But you have to love to write.”
| “Start small. Cover local sports. Nothing should [be] beneath you doing this. A game is a game and a story is a story, no matter where it takes place.” |
John Theriault, 40, of Glendale, Ariz., is a freelance sports writer who has 20 years of experience in the profession and has worked at the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily Herald during his career. Theriault says starting out a weekly newspaper, where you are required to be a jack-of-all trades, is a great training ground.
“I can’t emphasize [it] enough: Start small,” says Theriault. “Cover local sports. Nothing should [be] beneath you doing this. I have covered events from little league baseball up through the professional ranks. A game is a game and a story is a story, no matter where it takes place. Becoming a sports writer to get close to the action and be starstruck is the wrong reason. Be a sports writer because you love sports and love to tell a story.”
Find a mentor
Seek out a mentor who can guide you in this business. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a sports writer, either. You can learn from anyone and everyone. While interning for the Dayton Daily News, Stupp said he had a great editor who taught him a lot, was really patient and explained things well. But he also became friends with Mike Wagner, a business reporter for the paper.
“He taught me the tips and tricks and kosher shortcuts that made me even more productive and in the know, and it also made me feel more comfortable and at ease in the newsroom,” says Stupp, who says it’s important not to shy away from asking the veterans if you can shadow them.
Stupp continued: “I thought I wanted to be a business or general features reporter for quite a while, but when Hal McCoy, a longtime Cincinnati Reds beat writer and Baseball Hall of Fame writer, took me to a Reds game, I got to see a legend in action. He’s a big reason I sought a job with the Reds and decided to focus on sports writing.”
Develop new technology skills
It’s important to practice and fine-tune your writing skills, but understanding technology opens numerous avenues. Many newspaper editors get to that position because they can design and lay out pages — either online or in print. Understand digital photography, learn computers and the Web and popular software programs such as Photoshop, Illustrated, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver and others. It may not be a day-to-day part of your job, but having the versatility can open a lot of doors, says Stupp.
Don’t confuse sports writing with blogging
A key detail to remember as a sports writer is that your job is to report the facts of the game or event. That’s where many of today’s bloggers or online reports damage their reputation — and the reputation of sports writers. Traditional principles and ethics will always reign supreme, says Stupp. MMAjunkie.com has become a content partner with Yahoo! Sports thanks to the integrity and professionalism of the site.
“With MMAjunkie.com, I think we got ahead quickly and built a massive audience because we approached our news coverage as journalists, not bloggers or fans,” says Stupp. “Once we made that conscious decision to get out of blog mode, we really took off. There’s nothing wrong with blogging, but too many people use it as a cop-out not to do their own reporting or fact-checking. It’s just recycling other people’s work. The good bloggers take the extra step and do some original work. Protect your integrity at all costs, and separate yourself from those who don’t. Since I started my own company, I’ve had to let go a few people who didn’t value our integrity.”
Be prepared to work long hours
Working nights, weekends and holidays can be tough for those trying to raise a family. Zollman has two kids and a third on the way. He admits, the lifestyle is wearing on him. “After a while, especially once you have a family, the nights get long and going to that wrestling match on a Tuesday night in the middle of January when your favorite TV show is on becomes a drag,” he says. “I’m trying to get out of covering sports and into the news end of things, but because newspapers are cutting back, I am juggling both duties, which makes for long hours.”
Reap the rewards
When it’s all said and done, there is satisfaction for a job well done, especially at the youth and high school level. “Having been an athlete, I have been where these kids have been and those are some of my greatest memories,” says Zollman. “It’s rewarding to know that you are witnessing these memories and helping preserve for them for years to come because rest assured, your articles are being clipped and saved every week.
Theriault agreed: “Hearing ‘That was a great story’ from a player, coach or parent is the ultimate reward,” he says. “I have people that I covered 15 years prior, and they still have articles that I wrote. Remember, your writings are not just for your portfolio but also for someone’s personal scrapbook.”
Six tips for aspiring sports writers:
1. Be flexible. You must be a night person: You will be working many nights and weekends — that’s when the games take place.
2. Learn AP style. “Study it, learn it, know it,” says Zollman. “It will make your job much easier, and you will be much more efficient.”
3. Diversify your skill set. Learn photography and new technology skills. “Writing is important, but so is photography — learn how to take photos to make yourself more versatile and coveted,” says Zollman.
4. Don’t play favorites. Girls’ cross country is just as important as football. If you don’t want your phone to ring off the hook or your editor to ask you why he received a call to cancel a subscription because you are giving all the ink to the football team, and not the cross country team, write for a large audience, says Zollman.
5. Have some thick skin. Don’t be afraid to be criticized. Not everyone will agree with your writing.
6. Practice makes perfect. Sit down and watch a game from start to finish. When it’s done, listen to the post-game interviews and write a 500-1,000 word recap, and then read online newspaper and Web site reports of the same game. Compare your stories to the professionals covering it.
Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer and communications professional.
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