Sports Coverage

Sports coverage

Sports coverage consists of television broadcasts, online news sites and blogs, radio shows, and print media articles covering national and local teams. Television networks control the largest share of sports broadcasting in the United States, followed by regional sports network groups and local cable channels. Online platforms serve as a supplement to traditional sports journalism, providing real-time updates and behind the scenes content.

People who regularly follow a particular team want to see reports of their matches, especially when they win. They also like to discuss the decisions made by their team’s managers, coaches, and administrators, and pass judgment on referees and umpires. Those who don’t follow a specific team but enjoy sports as a pastime often read or listen to sports stories to learn more about rules, strategies, and the history of different sports.

Many of those who work in sports journalism are fans themselves, and that’s okay as long as they keep their fandom separate from their journalistic duties. They’re not allowed to cheer during games or in the press box, for example. And they shouldn’t wear their team gear when they’re interviewing athletes.

In addition to covering the latest scores and statistics, the best sports journalists tell multifaceted stories about social issues relating to sports. For instance, when NFL player Nassib Nassib came out as gay in 2019, media outlets didn’t simply cover his announcement – they examined the impact of coming out on social media, fan reactions, and Nassib’s broader advocacy role.