Journalism is a wide-ranging profession, and many people wonder, “What is sports media?” Sports media reviews to the journalistic professional and amateur reporting of sports news, events, teams and individual sports players. People who work in sports journalism may be employed by a radio station, television station, newspaper, website, or other type of media service. Understanding what this is is could help a sports fan plan their future career path in journalism.
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Written Publications About Sports Teams, Athletes and Events
A large part of what sports journalism is relates to the written publications about sports teams, athletes, coaches, organizations, and events. For example, sports journalists might write articles for Sports Illustrated or CNN’s sports website about college basketball tournaments. Written publications may also include interviews with individual athletes or coaches. Some written articles take a look at the makeup of a team and how it got to where it is today in terms of success or failure. Some writers create content for sports websites, news channels, blogs, or printed media. The written content may also include writing about athletes, teams, coaches, and sports organizations for the purpose of telling an entertaining story. This might include a book or long magazine article.
Live Coverage of Sports Events
Sports journalism also includes broadcasts or live coverage of sports events. For example, commentators may narrate what goes on in a sports event so that radio or television viewers can gain an understanding of the game. Live coverage may also be provided for events such as drafts of new players or team announcements. For example, a college sports team that is hiring a new football coach might hold an event for members of the press in order to release the information to the public. Broadcast journalists might interview players, coaches, or fans. They may also relay sports news.
Investigative Reporting Into Sports
The sports niche is not without controversy. Investigative reporting is another important part of the journalistic coverage of sports teams, players, events, and news. Investigative reporting might take a look at an athlete who lost their title or championship award because of doping. It might also explore social and cultural issues related to sports, such as sexism, racial discrimination, or favoritism. This type of reporting could also include taking a look at the people who coach or referee sports and how they got to where they are today. Some investigative reports also include interviews and a review of a team’s or player’s history.
Sports Photojournalism
According to Forbes, the sports industry is expected to generate more than $73.5 billion in annual income in 2019. This number is expected to grow. Sports photojournalism will play an important role in that growth. Photojournalists are responsible for live recordings, recorded content, and images of sports events, sports players, and more. For example, a sports photojournalist might take individual and team photographs at the end of a championship season. They might also take photos of a game in order to capture its essence in a single photo.
Sports media is a sub-type of journalism. There are many different opportunities for an entry-level position in this area of expertise. Knowing the answer to “What is sports media?” allows a college student or recent graduate to make an informed decision about their career path.