August 22, 2018,  Uncategorized  No comments

Michael Morgan

JMC303-101

Covering a College Beat

To begin, I did not realize how much a student could truly be involved within the field, while they are still in school. I believe that in covering a college beat while still attending school, a journalist will learn more by experience than anything that can be taught. Perhaps there will be some faults, but in failing, a writer will learn not to make those same mistakes.

I think that it is interesting as to how many steps you must take to simply talk to someone else likely the same age, simply because they play a sport. I realize that sports information directors have a job to do and that does not always make our job easier as writers. The window of opportunity for an interview seems to get smaller and smaller as the schools get larger themselves. In facing these difficulties though, it seems important to be happy with whatever feedback you can get due to the limitations set. I realize that I can not let myself get frustrated and SID’s are doing their job just as I am.

It is crazy that it had never occurred to be to work on building trust. I know that connections and befriending certain people is beneficial in any field, but perhaps more important in this one. There are a lot of prerequisites to writing a college beat, such as introducing yourself to the sports information director, the head coach, or even some players before ever thinking of an interview. These relationships and letting them know that they can trust you seem just as important as writing the story. Also, in writing a beat, I need to be very objective and simply, “call it as I see it” as it says in the chapter.

To say the least, I am extremely excited to begin writing a beat. This is for class, yes but it is also for one of my favorite sports that I am already familiar with. It seems that I should never assume I know everything and to research as much as possible before ever going to a game. No player is too small because who knows if the 5^th man off the bench is the one that hits the buzzer-beater to win the game. I want to make sure I know all that is possible.

I think that my biggest take away from the reading assignment was simply that I need to begin meeting with coaches and players. When the first assignment sheet said that we need to attend press conferences too, I got nervous. I am still a little curious as to how I do that though. I do not believe that just anyone can walk into those and I am not officially a member of the media. I am sure that will end up being discussed in class though. Overall, reading this text made me even more excited for starting to write and I may try and set up a meeting with Coach D’antoni in the next week and also perhaps Jon Elmore and the new center.