QUALITIES OF A GOOD SPORT WRITER

Sports writing of the aspects of a noble profession- journalism. It covers news like a basketball, or
volleyball story, sports editorial, and sports feature. Sports writing is fun but it is also hard work. Also, it
is ticklish and difficult job to handle. The writer must impart to the reader the drama and excitement of a
particular sports event or sports personality so the enthusiasm among readers will generate.

The main objective or goal of the sportswriter is to serve the readers by writing stories, either
amateur or professional in nature. The sport stories might vary depending upon the significance of the
athletic event or the amount of space available for the sports accounts. Sports writing is a specialized field
in journalism requiring specific skills and qualities. A good sports writer must possessed the following
qualities:

1. A sports writer must be a natural descriptive writer who can paint a quick verbal picture without
resorting to the dictionary for the right word.

2. It is important that the sports writer must have a feeling and genuine love for the sports. (You
can’t convey the emotion of an event or happening if you don’t feel it . If you feel it. the right
descriptive words will come out. You must feel also the emotion of the reader or a crowd and
the atmosphere of the area).

3. The sports writer must always be in the struggle in finding new words. new ways, to describe
punches, new ideas for stories because ideas are the currency of sporting journalism. ( This is
important in the business sports writing because the readers must be informed and well-
entertained with accurate, clear, and well-written sport write ups. To gain eminence in this field,
the sports writer must always hold the reader’s attention from the first paragraph to the last).
Accordingly, sports writers must have a general understanding of how sports work as businesses
in order to thoroughly complete a given assignment. In sports, there are marketing, finance,
public relations, communications, sales, legal, sponsorship and several other departments. A
given story can cover any of the given disciplines. For instance, a writer covering a story about
the implication of a league lockout will have to understand how a lockout legally affects both
sides but also understand how it affects sales, public relations and other aspects of the league’s
business.

4. The sports writer must be endowed with a keen memory. (This is essential if you are to recall
important facts and figures.

5. The sports writer must have a good digestion of significant events.

6. Must be fair and unbiased in writing or reporting. Though, some may live for the sensationalism
and gossip perpetrated in sports media. a good writer should know how to find out all of the real
 facts that make up a particular sport story. Instead of speculating or developing theories, writers
should complete the appropriate research on a given topic before going to press. If the story
involves a particular court case, actually find court documents to support what the article
discusses. If the story evolves business projections, look for certain market data. Use due
diligence to ensure that everything written is true and correct.

7. Sports writer must be creative. When readers find interest in a particular topic, they may peruse
various articles and columns about the same topic. The audience that sports writers cater to want
to read about more than one opinion and see the same topic from various angles. Regardless of
their position on a particular topic, the readers enjoy the competition and debate sparked by
sports. When writing about a particular topic, a writer should hold true to their viewpoint while
presenting the information in a creative manner at the same time. Avoid following the opinions of
fellow sports writers just because and feel free to embrace originality

REFERENCES:

Ambayon, Jose Cristobal M., (3 August, 2014 ). Sports Writing. Retrieved September 26, 2019
from https://www.slideshare.net/aaaemc2/sports-writing-

Parr, Porcshe, ( January 28, 2013). Seven Basic Skills Needed to Work in Sports Writing
Networker. Retrieved September 25, 2019 from
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2013/01/28/7-basic-skills-neede-to-work-in-sports-writing/