This document provides tips for writing about baseball games as a sports writer. It recommends starting with a plan to identify potential storylines. Writers should watch pre-game ceremonies and pay close attention during the game rather than relying on others' accounts. They should start writing during the game and structure the story following an inverted pyramid or feature style. The story should paint a picture of key moments through descriptive writing and player quotes to explain why things happened. Memorable endings that avoid cliches are also suggested.

1. JOU 3304
Sports Writing
Professor Michael Rizzo
Director, Journalism Program
Division of Mass Communication
Collins College of Professional Studies
Presentation for ASYNCHRONOUS
CLASS on September 28, 2020

2. JOU 3304
Sports Writing
Last Presentation - September 24
Baseball

3. Recap
Baseball as a sport is perhaps
most glorified for sportswriters
Attractive to fans for its tradition
and comparisons to current
players/teams
Statistic driven but also personality
focused

4. Other tips on covering baseball
Start with a plan: what’s the significance or
potential story lines for tonight’s game?
Think ahead. Map out what you’ll look for in
the game and see it remains the
newsworthy topic to focus on for your story.
Be there and watch for BEFORE the game
begins. Can you watch any pre-game
ceremonies? See if those events open up
any details to include in your story.

5. Pay attention. Professional sportswriters are
not fans who can afford to miss something
in the game. You are there to do your job
and that means taking notes and knowing
what happened because YOU saw it. Don’t
rely on someone else’s second hand report
to you of what went on in the game. Be
there.

6. Start writing your story as the game goes
along. You can always change the lead or
focus if something else occurs and then
change, reduce or move your previous
content to later in your story.

7. Make your lead what the reader needs to
know (INVERTED PYRAMID WITH
SUMMARY STYLE) or write it in a way that
pulls the reader in.
Make it a story that flows logically with
interesting details and postgame comments
that add to the focus of the story.

8. Make your lead either what the reader
needs to know (INVERTED PYRAMID WITH
SUMMARY STYLE ABOUT THE ENTIRE
GAME) or write it in a way that pulls the
reader in (MORE FEATURE STYLE – TEASE,
FOCUS ON A PLAYER OR KEY MOMENT.
Write your story to flow logically with
interesting details and postgame quotes
that add to the focus of the story.

9. Try to paint a picture of the game. You don’t
and shouldn’t write a play-by-play of every
play but bring the reader to the scene for
the big plays you want to report on.
Tell how things happen in your words and
get the why from the player interviews.

10. End your story with something memorable.
For print that can be a memorable quote,
another fact from the game or a look
ahead.
Don’t end with clichés.
You can add your interpretation and analysis
but remember: you’re a professional analyst
of the game not a fan voicing your rage or
praise of what happened to your team.

11. For Thursday Oct. 1, 2020.
There is no assignment to write.
But the NBA Finals will begin soon! So,
there is a change in the course
outline.
For Thursday read Pages 137-152 of the
textbook about covering Basketball

12. STAY WELL
AND
STAY SAFE