Introduction to Sports Journalism

Sports journalism has seen massive upheaval in recent years. Today’s 24/7 sports networks, streaming services, and social media platforms bring sports coverage and live events to consumers anytime, anywhere. But despite the increase in the number of media outlets and the speed by which news is delivered and consumed, the basic tenets of sports journalism remain, albeit with a few new wrinkles.

Embracing this dynamic, Introduction to Sports Journalism provides students with the practical knowledge and tools to succeed in the evolving field of sports journalism. While other texts repeat the “sports journalism is changing” refrain, Introduction to Sports Journalism sheds light on how and why it’s changing. Through these discussions students are challenged to formulate their own perspectives on contemporary sports journalism, journalistic expression, and how these concepts fit in today’s evolving media and societal landscapes.

The text begins with an overview and history of sports journalism and traditional media. Also discussed is the impact of today’s nontraditional journalists: the bloggers and videographers outside traditional media channels.

The core of the text then focuses on developing practical skills required to work in the sports journalism field, including knowing how and what to write to craft compelling stories. Much attention is paid to analytics, what they are, their variations across sports, and how to interpret and use them effectively. Also featured are digital media (blogs, podcasts, and social media platforms) and the technological tools used to create content.

Sports journalism and public relations often overlap, and the text explains the nuances of the respective functions. Public relations tools such as media guides and game notes are presented, as well as a section on crisis communication.

The pressure to “break the story” can tempt even the best journalist to plagiarize or fabricate stories or skip fact checks. The text covers journalism ethics and provides best practices for avoiding traps. Racial and gender bias and the importance of providing equitable coverage are also discussed. Additionally, legal issues such as copyright, privacy, discrimination, defamation, reporter’s privilege, and first amendment rights are addressed.

The book concludes with a discussion of career paths and challenges facing the industry. The landscape is changing and, in response, the authors provide career advice for students entering the field.

In the chapters you’ll find Industry Profile sidebars featuring interviews and conversations with practicing sports journalists. Also included are Time-Out activities throughout the chapters and end-of-chapter discussion questions, applied activities, and practical exercises, all designed to engage students more fully with the content and apply learning to real-life situations.

Introduction to Sports Journalism provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary sports journalism—spanning all media platforms and sport organizations—to prepare students for a dynamic career in sports journalism.

Matthew Zimmerman, PhD, is an assistant professor of sports media analytics at Virginia Tech. Previously, he taught sport administration and sport communication for eight years at Mississippi State University. Following a six-year stint in sports journalism, he has spent more than a decade in academia studying the effects of new media on the overall sports conversation between fans and organizations. He teaches courses on sport analytics and sports media production. As a researcher, he has published in multiple journals. He is a member of the International Association for Communication and Sport.

Lauren Burch, PhD, is a senior lecturer and the program director for the sports analytics and technologies program in the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University London in England. She teaches courses such as Digital Storytelling for Sports and Sport PR & Communication. Her research interests focus on examining the gendered construction of brand identity, athlete activism, and the examination of discourse and sentiment on social media. Burch’s current research has examined online abuse from a racial or gendered perspective in sport on social media. Her work has been published in International Journal of Sport Communication and Communication and Sport. She is a member of the International Association of Communication in Sport.

Brian Moritz, PhD, is an associate professor and director of the online journalism master’s programs in sports journalism and digital journalism at St. Bonaventure University. Previously, he taught for seven years as an associate professor of digital media production and online journalism at State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego and spent 10 years as an award-winning sports journalist and columnist in western and central New York. His research, which focuses on both the work routines of sports journalists and the economic models of digital sports journalism, has been published in the International Journal of Sport Communication and Communication and Sport. He is also the author of the Sports Media Guy blog. He is a member and past president of the Sports Communication Interest Group within the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (AEJMC) and a member of the International Association for Communication and Sport.