With this being the first year that I’ve been the Sports Editor, let alone just the second year that I’ve even worked in the world of sports media in general, I have found that sports journalism is, hands-down, the best form of media out there.
More specifically, it is timely media. The work that gets put out and posted fast is the most interesting and fun work to create.
For example, we recently worked on a story about former head football coach Alex Bettag being let go.
It’s not that I liked working on something about that certain topic, but creating the graphics and getting interviews as fast as possible so we could get it posted quickly is the work that’s fun to create.
Other work that’s like that are game recaps. Those are so fun to write and create graphics for. Usually, when we send someone to write a recap, they have to go to the game, get interviews after and write a first draft that night.
And plus, usually that kind of work is what readers care about most. Those stories are most likely our most-read and at the top of our leader boards shortly after we post them, so there’s a little more motivation to get the work done, as opposed to some other story that’s not as urgent.
Also, there are other factors that make it more fun. Normally, when we post a story that needs to get out fast, we make a social media post to go with it as soon as we post the story, which adds the more enjoyable components, such as photography and graphic design.
And while on the subject of posting work with more graphics that is also considered urgent, I want to bring up a new idea that we are bringing to The Journal.
It’s called “Cards to Watch.” Every issue, we are going to highlight two upcoming games that are good match ups between SHS and another school, as well as two athletes that deserve some recognition for how well they have been playing.
We will get coaches and players’ thoughts while adding a little information to try to hype up the highlighted games a little more.
This issue’s “Cards to Watch” story is already posted, so scan the QR code to go give it a read.