Читать книгу Field Guide to Covering Sports - Joe Gisondi - Страница 15

You’re a lifelong football fan who can recite the names of every single Super Bowl champion. You also know the intricacies of baseball’s infield fly rule and the difference between major and minor penalties in hockey. Ty Cobb’s lifetime batting average? Please. You can even name the Maple Leafs player in 1951 who scored in overtime to hand Toronto the Stanley Cup.

And now you’ve landed your dream job, covering sports. First assignment: field hockey. Suddenly, you don’t have a clue. Can’t tell the difference between a penalty shot and a penalty corner. You’ll have to do some reporting, relying on your skills to learn more about this sport, these teams and the key players. Nobody, no matter how big a sports fan, is a born journalist. The transformation from fan requires training and education.

You don’t need a license—or even a degree in the field—to be a journalist. But you do need to act like one. And journalism is a profession that requires reporters to seek truth and report it; to provide a fair, comprehensive account of events; and to verify information, act independently and be accountable for mistakes. In addition, sports journalists research, interview, and observe thoroughly.