The prep work before an interview, game, or other is extremely important to the overall effectiveness of your writing. Doing research about the background/history prior to attending a sports event will help you be able to focus on the present rather than piecing together the past. Chapter 4 touches on how to prepare for games and offers several topics of interest to research prior to the game including: certain key players/stats/injuries, coaches and team record, the significance of the game/match (conference, ranked team, playoff deciding), info on starting lineup, and where you could find live stats or livestream. Researching these topics beforehand helps you get ahead and not only have more background information for your writing piece, but you also know what you are talking about when interviewing people. Lastly, these details help the story move along and differentiate it from other similar pieces.
When covering a game, prep work is a need if you want to make a high quality report. Chapter 4 suggests one of the best ways you can prepare for a game is no different then doing research for an newspaper. Looking at documents or articles online can give you all the background information you need so you know what to watch for. Which players are hot, who’s in a slump? what does this game mean for the future of the team? how have these teams played each other in the past? Doing prep work will help you find the appropriate angle to think about before you watch the game and write. That way when you get to writing, you will already have all the information about the angle you choose to convey. Preparing for interviews is no different, as you need to do your research on your interviewee first. By doing research, you will be better equipped with deep questions, prompting deeper responses than just yes or no. If the player was having personal struggles before the game, then they hit the game winning home run and you where the only reporter to ask about their emotions considering their struggles, then you will get the deepest response.
It is super critical to prepare before your game if you want to do a good job reporting on it. It is important to recognize the significance of the matchup and understand what is at stake. For example, I want to cover the Biddeford HS vs Kennebunk HS football game which is a historic rivalry game. I will also have to look into both teams’ records and understand if there are any other implications such as the playoffs. I will also need to research key players and statistics. Lot’s of this information is available online on websites such as MaxPreps which will make my research much easier. I don’t think I will really need to reach out to any contacts for more information ahead of the game but after the game I will definitely want to try to talk to some players/coaches afterwards. Capturing their emotions and perspectives can add depth to the story and provide unique perspectives that stats alone can’t convey.
Preparing for the Hearts of Pine vs. Westchester SC match on October 18th means balancing two roles: working the ESPN broadcast as a camera operator and writing the gamer afterward. Chapter Four emphasizes that sports reporting begins long before the opening whistle, and I plan to apply those lessons in a way that fits the unique position I’ll be in during this match.
The first element is schedule planning. Chapter Four points out that strong game coverage depends on being in the right places at the right times. Because my first responsibility will be operating the broadcast camera, I’ll plan to arrive early to take notes during warmups and gather background details before going on headset. This will give me a sense of the energy of both teams, which I can fold into my gamer. Since I won’t be free to do sideline interviews during or right after the match, I’ll also need to rely on official stat sheets, team recaps, and possibly post-game press releases for quotes or insights.
Research is another area Chapter Four stresses, and this is something I can do fully in advance. I’ll review both teams’ recent records, standings, and any history between Hearts of Pine and Westchester SC. This prep work will allow me to place the match in context—whether it’s a rivalry, a battle for playoff positioning, or a test of momentum. Knowing this background ensures my story is more than just a recap of the score.
Finally, Chapter Four talks about preparing sharp questions to avoid clichés. Since I may not be able to conduct interviews myself, I can adapt by preparing questions that I’d like answered and then seeing if team press releases, social media posts, or other reporters’ coverage address them. That way, I can still keep my gamer specific and fresh rather than generic. Even though I’ll be behind the camera for the ESPN broadcast, Chapter Four shows me how to prepare strategically so I can still write a clear, accurate, and contextual gamer once the match is over.
As a reporter, it’s incredibly important to do prep work before covering a game. You must gather as much background information as possible. This can include the significance of the game, which players are getting the most attention, whether or not there is history between the two teams, etc. Essentially, you want to research the things that fans will want to hear about regarding the game.
I personally will be covering a UNE club baseball game against Franklin Pierce. I will need to find a roster of the UNE team, as I am unfamiliar with who plays for our team. Through some online investigation, I should be able to find out who the key players are, and maybe some of their stats as well. I will need to reach out to the organization itself to learn about the players and their background with the team. This preparation can take place way before the game approaches. This way I have the opportunity to set myself up for success and have as much knowledge as possible going into the game.
As for scheduling, I already know when and where the game will be taking place. However, I should make a point to arrive early to catch warmups, and take note of anything that could be worth reporting. As the game occurs, I should create some questions I could ask the players/coach if I were to get the opportunity at the end of the game. Knowing what I want to say to my interviewees ahead of time will allow potential conversation to go smoothly.
Whenever I cover a game, I know my work starts well before kickoff. If I don’t prepare, I’ll miss the storylines that make the game worth writing about. Doing background research helps me figure out what to pay attention to—whether that’s a player on a hot streak, a team fighting to keep playoff hopes alive, or a rivalry that carries extra weight. By walking in with that context, I can already have an angle in mind instead of scrambling to piece it together afterwards.
I also think preparation makes a huge difference with interviews. If I’ve done my homework, I can ask players or coaches questions that get real, thoughtful answers instead of quick yes-or-no responses. Sometimes, knowing a bit about what someone has gone through before the game makes it possible to connect their performance to their personal story, which always makes for stronger reporting.
For the UNE women’s soccer game against Wentworth, my plan is to research both teams’ records, look into recent results, and check if the matchup has implications for the conference standings. I’ll pay attention to key players and statistical trends so I can follow the flow of the game with a sharper eye. After the final whistle, I want to talk to players and coaches to capture their emotions in the moment. Stats can show what happened, but those conversations reveal the “why” and “how,” which is what I really want to bring out in my report.
Preparation for covering a sports game is the most crucial part of it all. Without educating yourself on what you will be writing about—you will be lost and have no idea what you’re saying. Looking back on chapter four, it covers all you need to know about prepping to write a story on a game. When thinking about what I will need to do in preparation to cover the game I have been assigned I have to put a lot of work in beforehand. For starters, I am covering a field hockey game but have no knowledge of how the game works whatsoever. I haven’t watched a game before either. So the first thing I must do is learn the foundation and basics of how the game works. After this, I will do some research on the stats of the team’s wins and loses this year so far. I also have to look into who is on the team so I can keep track of each player’s number when watching the game. One other big thing to prepare for the game is doing some deep thinking on what questions to ask when interviewing players and doing research on who might be best to interview for the piece I am writing.
Jimmy Hulland – Journal 7
The prep work before a game is super important for really seeing all the action that happened during the game or event. Chapter 4 emphasizes this big time as it talks about how great writing in sports stories isn’t just about when the game is actually about to start or ended but more about the days/weeks leading up to the game. The reporters have to make sure that they go visit both teams to make sure they get their current stats, who is starting, whatever injuries, and even some background on certain players. As Michael Wilbon describes in the text, preparing is all about “looking for anecdotes, good quotes, and insights into how the game might play out.”
A big thing too is about making connections and going to practices and chatting with the players, coaches, and trainers helps a reporter build trust and feel at ease when it’s time for interviews. The better the vibe, the more chill and genuine those interviews will be kinda like anything else. Sports writers also get ready by writing down some possible questions for after the game, but the best ones are pretty flexible and come up when you are really trying to get an answer out of player about a key story or key moment from the game. Sometimes players get upset by some of these questions because they can be sore subjects, especially directly after the game because some players get frustrated by certain questions, so you have to choose wisely which questions you ask.
Preparation also includes planning stuff like arriving early, knowing where the press box or media area is, and knowing the deadlines. Reporters always gotta write quickly after games so having notes organized and facts ready is huge.
In order to cover the game in a successful way, there is a lot of prep work that needs to be done and go into it. Based on the reading of chapter 4 there are many ways to prepare for a game and many different types of information you can gather. In order to prepare for a game you must do research and have the knowledge that is easily accessible to be able to report on. Knowing stats of key players and also whether or not someone had been performing really good or really bad in the recent games and maybe even history between opponents may be great information to have throughout the while you’re covering a game. I also think trying to understand the players you’re watching and emotions and other key information you can pick out while being crucial for a post game interview with the questions you could craft. Chapter 4 heavily focuses on research and how important it is to have good information to talk about. In order to be fully prepared for the game you are covering there needs to be hours of research put in on the game.
The game I am covering is Mens hockey. In order to cover that game correctly, even using just off of chapter 4, you need to gain knowledge about anything important for that game. You need to know the players on UNE and the opposing team. You may also need to learn and really get down the understanding of the sport more if needed. Another good idea would be to try to create good questions to potentially ask. Lastly, I think knowing how the stats of both teams are impacting their recent and current team performance is very important so you can actually know what you’re talking about when reporting. You want to have enough information and knowledge on the game, that when you’re covering the game you are confident in what you’re saying and also know what is happening throughout the game and know what you’re talking about.
One big takeaway from this chapter is how much preparation goes into covering a sporting event before it even starts. A good sports journalist can’t just show up at game time and expect to write a great story, you need to plan ahead. For me, that means organizing my schedule early, reserching the teams, and knowing key players or storylines before I even arrive. The chapter really showed how important it is to understand context, like recent stats, rivalries, or standout performances, because that background helps shape the story once the action unfolds.
I’d also make sure to reach out to contacts, like coaches, players, or sports information directors, before the game to get insight or quotes ready for use afterward. Doing that kind of prep work helps you focus on what matters most during the game, instead of scrambling for information later. In short, being prepared ahead of time makes the writing process smoother and the final story stronger.
Journal 7
In order to prepare to cover a game, I feel that there are many ways to prepare to cover it. I learned lots of information on how prep work is done for games in chapters 4 and five. One of the main things that you have to do is know your research. Whatever game that you are covering, (which is gonna be the mens soccer game for me) knowing the team’s rosters along with their stats along with their recent performances is very crucial to know. Something that can be very beneficial is having some sort of a cheat sheet for maybe after the game if you are conducting an interview from a player who was a standout in the game, and make sure to have the players stats from the game along with interesting facts that you may catch while watching the game.
Another big thing as well is gathering quotes and context before the game. Trying to talk to the players and coaches as their warming up for their game can be very beneficial as it may give some good context and how they want the game to go along with their game plan. All in all, it’s many steps that you may need to face before getting prepared going into reporting a game, and I’m very exited to do my first ever report for this upcoming week.
12 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 7”
The prep work before an interview, game, or other is extremely important to the overall effectiveness of your writing. Doing research about the background/history prior to attending a sports event will help you be able to focus on the present rather than piecing together the past. Chapter 4 touches on how to prepare for games and offers several topics of interest to research prior to the game including: certain key players/stats/injuries, coaches and team record, the significance of the game/match (conference, ranked team, playoff deciding), info on starting lineup, and where you could find live stats or livestream. Researching these topics beforehand helps you get ahead and not only have more background information for your writing piece, but you also know what you are talking about when interviewing people. Lastly, these details help the story move along and differentiate it from other similar pieces.
When covering a game, prep work is a need if you want to make a high quality report. Chapter 4 suggests one of the best ways you can prepare for a game is no different then doing research for an newspaper. Looking at documents or articles online can give you all the background information you need so you know what to watch for. Which players are hot, who’s in a slump? what does this game mean for the future of the team? how have these teams played each other in the past? Doing prep work will help you find the appropriate angle to think about before you watch the game and write. That way when you get to writing, you will already have all the information about the angle you choose to convey. Preparing for interviews is no different, as you need to do your research on your interviewee first. By doing research, you will be better equipped with deep questions, prompting deeper responses than just yes or no. If the player was having personal struggles before the game, then they hit the game winning home run and you where the only reporter to ask about their emotions considering their struggles, then you will get the deepest response.
It is super critical to prepare before your game if you want to do a good job reporting on it. It is important to recognize the significance of the matchup and understand what is at stake. For example, I want to cover the Biddeford HS vs Kennebunk HS football game which is a historic rivalry game. I will also have to look into both teams’ records and understand if there are any other implications such as the playoffs. I will also need to research key players and statistics. Lot’s of this information is available online on websites such as MaxPreps which will make my research much easier. I don’t think I will really need to reach out to any contacts for more information ahead of the game but after the game I will definitely want to try to talk to some players/coaches afterwards. Capturing their emotions and perspectives can add depth to the story and provide unique perspectives that stats alone can’t convey.
Preparing for the Hearts of Pine vs. Westchester SC match on October 18th means balancing two roles: working the ESPN broadcast as a camera operator and writing the gamer afterward. Chapter Four emphasizes that sports reporting begins long before the opening whistle, and I plan to apply those lessons in a way that fits the unique position I’ll be in during this match.
The first element is schedule planning. Chapter Four points out that strong game coverage depends on being in the right places at the right times. Because my first responsibility will be operating the broadcast camera, I’ll plan to arrive early to take notes during warmups and gather background details before going on headset. This will give me a sense of the energy of both teams, which I can fold into my gamer. Since I won’t be free to do sideline interviews during or right after the match, I’ll also need to rely on official stat sheets, team recaps, and possibly post-game press releases for quotes or insights.
Research is another area Chapter Four stresses, and this is something I can do fully in advance. I’ll review both teams’ recent records, standings, and any history between Hearts of Pine and Westchester SC. This prep work will allow me to place the match in context—whether it’s a rivalry, a battle for playoff positioning, or a test of momentum. Knowing this background ensures my story is more than just a recap of the score.
Finally, Chapter Four talks about preparing sharp questions to avoid clichés. Since I may not be able to conduct interviews myself, I can adapt by preparing questions that I’d like answered and then seeing if team press releases, social media posts, or other reporters’ coverage address them. That way, I can still keep my gamer specific and fresh rather than generic. Even though I’ll be behind the camera for the ESPN broadcast, Chapter Four shows me how to prepare strategically so I can still write a clear, accurate, and contextual gamer once the match is over.
As a reporter, it’s incredibly important to do prep work before covering a game. You must gather as much background information as possible. This can include the significance of the game, which players are getting the most attention, whether or not there is history between the two teams, etc. Essentially, you want to research the things that fans will want to hear about regarding the game.
I personally will be covering a UNE club baseball game against Franklin Pierce. I will need to find a roster of the UNE team, as I am unfamiliar with who plays for our team. Through some online investigation, I should be able to find out who the key players are, and maybe some of their stats as well. I will need to reach out to the organization itself to learn about the players and their background with the team. This preparation can take place way before the game approaches. This way I have the opportunity to set myself up for success and have as much knowledge as possible going into the game.
As for scheduling, I already know when and where the game will be taking place. However, I should make a point to arrive early to catch warmups, and take note of anything that could be worth reporting. As the game occurs, I should create some questions I could ask the players/coach if I were to get the opportunity at the end of the game. Knowing what I want to say to my interviewees ahead of time will allow potential conversation to go smoothly.
Whenever I cover a game, I know my work starts well before kickoff. If I don’t prepare, I’ll miss the storylines that make the game worth writing about. Doing background research helps me figure out what to pay attention to—whether that’s a player on a hot streak, a team fighting to keep playoff hopes alive, or a rivalry that carries extra weight. By walking in with that context, I can already have an angle in mind instead of scrambling to piece it together afterwards.
I also think preparation makes a huge difference with interviews. If I’ve done my homework, I can ask players or coaches questions that get real, thoughtful answers instead of quick yes-or-no responses. Sometimes, knowing a bit about what someone has gone through before the game makes it possible to connect their performance to their personal story, which always makes for stronger reporting.
For the UNE women’s soccer game against Wentworth, my plan is to research both teams’ records, look into recent results, and check if the matchup has implications for the conference standings. I’ll pay attention to key players and statistical trends so I can follow the flow of the game with a sharper eye. After the final whistle, I want to talk to players and coaches to capture their emotions in the moment. Stats can show what happened, but those conversations reveal the “why” and “how,” which is what I really want to bring out in my report.
Preparation for covering a sports game is the most crucial part of it all. Without educating yourself on what you will be writing about—you will be lost and have no idea what you’re saying. Looking back on chapter four, it covers all you need to know about prepping to write a story on a game. When thinking about what I will need to do in preparation to cover the game I have been assigned I have to put a lot of work in beforehand. For starters, I am covering a field hockey game but have no knowledge of how the game works whatsoever. I haven’t watched a game before either. So the first thing I must do is learn the foundation and basics of how the game works. After this, I will do some research on the stats of the team’s wins and loses this year so far. I also have to look into who is on the team so I can keep track of each player’s number when watching the game. One other big thing to prepare for the game is doing some deep thinking on what questions to ask when interviewing players and doing research on who might be best to interview for the piece I am writing.
Jimmy Hulland – Journal 7
The prep work before a game is super important for really seeing all the action that happened during the game or event. Chapter 4 emphasizes this big time as it talks about how great writing in sports stories isn’t just about when the game is actually about to start or ended but more about the days/weeks leading up to the game. The reporters have to make sure that they go visit both teams to make sure they get their current stats, who is starting, whatever injuries, and even some background on certain players. As Michael Wilbon describes in the text, preparing is all about “looking for anecdotes, good quotes, and insights into how the game might play out.”
A big thing too is about making connections and going to practices and chatting with the players, coaches, and trainers helps a reporter build trust and feel at ease when it’s time for interviews. The better the vibe, the more chill and genuine those interviews will be kinda like anything else. Sports writers also get ready by writing down some possible questions for after the game, but the best ones are pretty flexible and come up when you are really trying to get an answer out of player about a key story or key moment from the game. Sometimes players get upset by some of these questions because they can be sore subjects, especially directly after the game because some players get frustrated by certain questions, so you have to choose wisely which questions you ask.
Preparation also includes planning stuff like arriving early, knowing where the press box or media area is, and knowing the deadlines. Reporters always gotta write quickly after games so having notes organized and facts ready is huge.
https://eglynos.uneportfolio.org/journal-entries/
Jayden Thornton
Sports Reporting
Journal 7
In order to cover the game in a successful way, there is a lot of prep work that needs to be done and go into it. Based on the reading of chapter 4 there are many ways to prepare for a game and many different types of information you can gather. In order to prepare for a game you must do research and have the knowledge that is easily accessible to be able to report on. Knowing stats of key players and also whether or not someone had been performing really good or really bad in the recent games and maybe even history between opponents may be great information to have throughout the while you’re covering a game. I also think trying to understand the players you’re watching and emotions and other key information you can pick out while being crucial for a post game interview with the questions you could craft. Chapter 4 heavily focuses on research and how important it is to have good information to talk about. In order to be fully prepared for the game you are covering there needs to be hours of research put in on the game.
The game I am covering is Mens hockey. In order to cover that game correctly, even using just off of chapter 4, you need to gain knowledge about anything important for that game. You need to know the players on UNE and the opposing team. You may also need to learn and really get down the understanding of the sport more if needed. Another good idea would be to try to create good questions to potentially ask. Lastly, I think knowing how the stats of both teams are impacting their recent and current team performance is very important so you can actually know what you’re talking about when reporting. You want to have enough information and knowledge on the game, that when you’re covering the game you are confident in what you’re saying and also know what is happening throughout the game and know what you’re talking about.
One big takeaway from this chapter is how much preparation goes into covering a sporting event before it even starts. A good sports journalist can’t just show up at game time and expect to write a great story, you need to plan ahead. For me, that means organizing my schedule early, reserching the teams, and knowing key players or storylines before I even arrive. The chapter really showed how important it is to understand context, like recent stats, rivalries, or standout performances, because that background helps shape the story once the action unfolds.
I’d also make sure to reach out to contacts, like coaches, players, or sports information directors, before the game to get insight or quotes ready for use afterward. Doing that kind of prep work helps you focus on what matters most during the game, instead of scrambling for information later. In short, being prepared ahead of time makes the writing process smoother and the final story stronger.
Journal 7
In order to prepare to cover a game, I feel that there are many ways to prepare to cover it. I learned lots of information on how prep work is done for games in chapters 4 and five. One of the main things that you have to do is know your research. Whatever game that you are covering, (which is gonna be the mens soccer game for me) knowing the team’s rosters along with their stats along with their recent performances is very crucial to know. Something that can be very beneficial is having some sort of a cheat sheet for maybe after the game if you are conducting an interview from a player who was a standout in the game, and make sure to have the players stats from the game along with interesting facts that you may catch while watching the game.
Another big thing as well is gathering quotes and context before the game. Trying to talk to the players and coaches as their warming up for their game can be very beneficial as it may give some good context and how they want the game to go along with their game plan. All in all, it’s many steps that you may need to face before getting prepared going into reporting a game, and I’m very exited to do my first ever report for this upcoming week.