Social media quick source of information in Sports journalism

Social media for quick source of information in Sports journalism

Islamabad;
By,Asghar Ali Mubarak

The Sports journalism is a form of writing that reports on sporting topics and competitions. Sports journalism is the essential element of many news media organizations.The Sports reporters used social media for quick information and keep readers informed with extra tidbits that didn’t make it into a full-coverage story. In our digital age, where smart phones are standard office equipment, sports reporters often snap a quick photo of batting practice or the morning skate to post on a blog or any social channel like Twitter, Face book Insta gram or Watsup. The Watsup – internet and other related social media like face book, twitters. LinkedIn are the fastest and quickest form of h sports journalism. Almost all journalists have to start from ground zero. So if you are an aspiring Journalist, you can start with your own blogs on your favorite team or particular sport. This helps you to build up your portfolio of self-published clips and if any sports organization finds your blog interesting then you could also get a chance to work with them.

Social media has changed our ‘’Sports News World’’

The social media has changed our ‘‘’Sports News World’’past few years. There’s also no doubt social media has vastly changed the tasks for sports journalists, too. Gone are the days of simply going to a game, talking to players and just writing one simple game story. Those things are still a reality, of course, but now there are a bunch of different responsibilities that have been added to the job requirement list, whether written or unwritten. A reporter in the sports business (should realize a social media presence is part of the job. Some may embrace it more than others, but there are expectations to use it in some way in order to keep users/readers informed and stay competitive with other journalists in the same market. Let’s take a look at Twitter. This is one platform that has really influenced the way the world covers and watches sports. It’s important for sports reporters to be active on Twitter, develop a following and post information about the sports and teams they cover. Twitter has become a breaking-news source. Sure, reporters will still cover the story. They’ll just share the main piece of new information via 140 characters on Twitter first as an appetizer, usually starting out a Tweet with “BREAKING…” In sports, look to Twitter first for things like player injury updates, weather delay information, and roster moves and stand-out quotes from athletes or coaches.
With Twitter making it easy to share quick thoughts on game action, some reporters might choose to use the platform as a form of note-taking. Instead of scratching out separate notes about that four-run third inning, reporters might Tweet out the play-by-play updates, along with stats and analysis. They can always go back to their feed later when writing their game story. Along these same lines, play-by-play updates are a large part of what makes sports journalists’ social media accounts valuable for followers. This is especially true for fans that aren’t able to watch the game; they can simply know everything that’s going on without watching if they follow the beat writer covering the event.
There is a lot more access to sports journalists with social media as well, just like users having the chance to interact with their favorite celebrities on social; they can do the same with their favorite sports reporters. Users can Tweet replies at reporters asking questions or simply make comments about athletes or games. The amount of engagement could get overwhelming for reporters, especially those with large followings, but some engagement with fans can be a good thing. It can be part of the reporter’s reputation or credibility if they have a positive social-media relationship with fans.
Social made watching sports different for fans, too.

Social media and sporting events
The age of social media has also changed the way sports fans watch sporting events. Sitting at home on the couch watching baseball or going out to a bar with friends to watch football have an added element now: Checking social media. In some ways, social media brings the community aspect of watching a game right to your fingertips. Fans of the local baseball team can follow all the sports journalists Tweeting about these games, plus they can also follow other local fans who are sharing their opinions of the game as well.
Sports personalities shine through on social media

The Sports personalities shine themselves through social media. There are the negative fan takes, the positive ones, the hilarious thoughts that make you hit the retweet button and even the thoughts that provide another perspective you might not have considered when it comes to a certain play or player.
Social media has truly changed the way sports
Social media has truly changed the way sports are consumed by journalists and fans. It provides plenty of added benefits and additional coverage that frankly wasn’t around a few years ago. Social media has made the sports world more engaging and informative.

Sports journalism is the fastest-growing sector of the news media industry,

The Sports journalism is the fastest-growing sector of the news media industry, with continued growth on all platforms specialty magazines, multimedia outlets, and TV channels and networks. The sports journalism skill is based on sports writing, sports photography, sports strategic communications, ethics and diversity in sports. The newspaper is a periodical publication containing news on current events and can be dated back to the 17th century. Sporting news, however, is not thought to have appeared in newspapers until at least a century later according to Goldlust:“The earliest sustained interest in the reporting of sport in the print media is generally recognized to be associated with Bell’s Life and the Weekly Dispatch, both popular London magazines in the early 1800s”(Goldlust, cited in Boyle, 2006, p. 31). It certainly took sport a while longer to really become mainstay in UK publications, as Boyle suggests: “By the end of the 19th century, newspapers in the UK were increasingly commercial, partisan and national commodities and sports coverage was recognized as one of the elements that helped to drive sales” (Boyle, 2006, p. 32). Those in the sports journalism industry have faced a perennial struggle to be considered important and relevant and those in other areas “often refer to the jibethat sports journalism is the ‘toy department of the news media’ –that is, in a place dedicated to fun and frivolity, rather than to the serious functions of the fourth estate”(Rowe, 2004, p. 41). , However, others disagree, including Boyle who suggests that: “Sports Journalism is an important part of the news media, but it is fair to observe that it is not among its most prestigious disciplines” (2006, p. 36). It is important to note that sports coverage was popular in both tabloid and broadsheet public captions, with the readers’ love of sport seemingly uniting them. “In British sports journal ism the class and market division between tabloid and broadsheet journalism were a significant feature, each with a marked and distinctive terrain and stylistic mode of address. It is the blurring of these on distinctive boundaries since the mid 1900s that is a major aspect of contemporary sports journalism” (Boyle, 2006, p. 36). Boyle goes on to suggest that the narrowing in the differences between tabloid and broadsheet newspapers and their shared love of sport and changed the way that the public see it. “While the growing popular press in the UK at the turn of the 20th century certainly did not invent sport, their engagement with it, their ability to create shape and meaning around it, and the process of widespread dissemination of news associated with sporting events all began to transform what was understood to be the position of sport in society” (Boyle, 2006, p. 37)

Internet has proved importance in modern journalism

The internet has proved to be hugely importance in modern day journalism.“One of the most important developments in sports journalism in recent years has been the growth of online publishing, or websites on the internet” (Andrews, 2005, p.146). Indeed it helped develop and quench the first for interactivity, and Kolodzy suggests:“n the 1990s, the Web changed news audiences from being passive consumers to interactive consumers” (2006, p. 217).Readers want no longer want to simply read the news. They want to comment on it, give their opinion and, in some instances, interact with news. The internet’s creation helped readers do just that. Journalism in the online era is different. There is more information out there, more news stories being generated and a bigger, thirstier readership “Now material is online it can be accessed from around the world” (Toney, 2013, p. 117). A quick search online opens up thousands of news stories from all time periods and helps news in its perennial fight to remain relevant, though often it can be too much information.“Perhaps the main advantage online journalism offers over other forms is that is eliminates the fixedness deadline. A website can be updated at any time, and technology is available that it can deliver breaking stories direct to people’s desktops” (Andrews, 2005, p. 148). These days, fans themselves can be labeled citizen journalists. Internet forums first allowed sports fans the medium to comment on news or events and the internet has only increased fan interactivity. “The fan experience doesn’t stop at the turnstile, it continues after the match on Twitter, Face book and YouTube” (Toney, 2013, p. 50).Toney is correct in that after matches, fans will often take to Twitter or Face book or indeed an online football forum to able to understand a balance sheet –vital following the introduction of financial fair play regulations or working out whether a cash-strapped club can pay interest on their debts. A journalist needs to understand business –the difference between a limited company and a public limited company, what occurs at a shareholders meeting and explain what happens when a business goes into administration” (Toney, p.107, 2013). This holds weight in regard to Twitter, because the social media tool is ultimately a business platform for newspapers; they can promote stories or interviews via it, and certain stories can garner certain trends. There is a great amount of theoretical evidence that suggests Twitter has changed the way in which football journalists’ work. But this dissertation aims to investigate whether the social media tool has improved or degraded football journalism practices.

The rise of Twitter in journalism
“Introduced in 2006 as a short message system meant primarily to serve as a cell phone application, Twitter has grown into a vast news and information network used across multiple platforms by millions of people globally”(Morris, 2009).Twitter’s popularity since its inception has continued to grow, and now only Face book is used more than it in the social media sector. It is “one of the fastest growing social networking sites in terms of audience, gaining more than 190 million global users who post 65 million tweets each day” (Wauters, 2010). The concept behind Twitter was originally micro blogging, restricting a character limit to each post in order to get users to be concise with that they want to say but it has developed into a fully-fledged social network.“Twitter allows users to create ‘micro blogs’ wherein they can construct and distribute communicative messages to others” (Goodyear, 2010). These messages, or tweets, have become popular and, as Murthy (2011,p. 781) suggests:“

History of Sports Journalism
Sports journalism is an art of modern journalism that reports on sports topics and events. The sports department within some newspapers has been called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the ‘serious’ topics covered by the news desk, sports coverage has grown in importance as sport has grown in wealth, power and influence.

Between the end of World War I and the beginning of the great depression was described as a decade of change. America and the world wanted to put the memory of the Great War behind them and enjoy life. The economy was booming because of the war and the automobile was becoming a more common means of transportation. This freedom allowed America to fall in love with sports through the exploits of Jack Dempsey, Man O’ War, The Four Horseman of Notre, and the biggest name of all, Babe Ruth.Sports journalism’s roots developed long before Sports Illustrated and ESPN. Sports writers, although mocked in early days for not being serious writers, now revel in an industry worth billions. From the Internet, newspapers, radio and television to the movies and magazines, content is vast and packed with heart racing photos and videos of games, plays, moments, and victories and losses. Athletes jockey for a place in the news and the cameras always seem to be rolling, and now for the history of sports journalism.
1789 IN THE BEGINNING
Horses, which some paleontologists believe may have originally evolved from dinosaurs, may have the right to claim the first glimmers of sports journalism. In 1727, The Racing Calendar offers information about races and their results. In 1791, The General Stud book is added. The site History World, http://www.historyworld.net explains that the English were curious about the lineage of their horses too.
Boxing is a popular sport in London. Champion Daniel Mendoza writes a book about the sport. It is called The Art of Boxing. Mendoza goes on to lose the title from John Jackson, known as Gentleman Jack. According to the site, his name “is more for the circle of friends than his fighting style.”
From these times, the publications for men told of great battles between men and if they fought for fun, exercise or settling a wager. Even back then, the details involving blood, bruises and broken bones excited men. The sport gained in popularity after readers caught on to the idea of beating someone without getting in trouble. Women were not allowed in any sports establishment in London, and most had no desire to change this rule.
In the 1800s, the idea of basketball is started and other sports follow. The times of America demanded attention to be placed on work and home, not recreational activities. In the early part of the 1900s, America dealt with the full impact of the Industrial Revolution and World War l. The times preceding the First World War brought a new life to the game of golf, which has its early origins in Scotland. The Scots claim they invented the game; however, there is some speculation that they may have evolved it instead.
1900sEarly Days
Golf is a popular game and has several magazines devoted to it. This includes The American Golfer. Published by Conde Nast, it was founded in the early half of the 1900s. Its covers have featured golf greats, including Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen and Byron Nelson.
The Depression and World War ll brought a halt to sports as scores of men and women left home to defend the country. Children and youth continued to play. Yet, it was after the war that sports celebrated a rebirth.
1954 THE BIRTH OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Sports Illustrated is arguably one of the most popular magazines for sports journalism. Even though its first issue was not released until August of 1954, the executives at Time, Inc realized its potential when World War ll ended and sports became a major recreational activity. The first cover features slugger Eddie Matthews of the Milwaukee Braves.
Back then, executives did not know much about sports journalism. The magazine changed from one week to the next as they tried different ideas. Still, the topics offered readers a full range of information and photographs regarding different sports. These included everything from football and basketball to gymnastics and even bullfighting! The earlier issues featured how-to tips too.
Once the readership became established, executives enticed fans with “a three-page centre foldout of 1954 Topps baseball cards.” Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams were featured on the cards, which were “printed on the same paper stock as the magazine.”
The term, “Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue” dates back to the early 1960s when executives began pondering the idea. In January 1964, the first issue showing a woman with a white two-piece suit caused an instant reaction. The picture is “tame by today’s standards.”
In the early days of the magazine African Americans did not have equality or respect. Through time, and many long fights, this is changing. Sports Illustrated is one place to feature the black athletes. These include two popular personalities, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. It was claims that “They have been featured on the front cover more times than any other athletes.”
The front cover of SI, as it is called by many readers and fans, featured non-athlete faces, including Bob Hope, Ernest Hemingway and President John F. Kennedy. These issues, if they can be found and in top condition, have enormous value.
WHAT IS SPORTS JOURNALISM
In modern journalism newspapers provided sports journalism from the first days of publishing. The coverage was basic and sparse. Writers often did not know much about the sports themselves. Occasionally, a sportswriter would actually have a working knowledge of the game. . Now a day’s many companies and stations want actual experience form their writers. This makes former athletes more valuable and offers them a chance to stay “in the game” instead of disappearing from sight. . As credible papers debuted, sportswriters needed more knowledge of the sport they covered The Internet, radio shows and television offer sports journalism. The depth of coverage is intense and high point players garner attention and fame. The stories by sportswriters cover more than scores and highlights; they also cover future plays, fears of coaches, personal snapshots of players, typical road life adventures. It is not just the fans who pay attention to the sportswriters. Coaches from around the country, scouts and even advertisers watch and listen. Nike, Spalding and other big names use the information provided by the sportswriters when looking for the next big idea. They want to see who will be the next star. The whole wants to know too, and sportswriters have plenty of answers. Today, Sports Illustrated is branching out with an issue for youth. Its content is designed to encourage involvement in sports, provide information about reducing injuries, and highlighting major names etc. The sports editors know the youth are influenced by what they include in each issue. In response, they often include ads by stars that encourage youth to avoid drugs and alcohol, stay in school and remain clear of trouble. It is one of the few magazines geared towards youth. Times changed when accuracy and details became more important than yellow journalism. This was when the focus was on the sensational bits of news and facts often went unverified, if they were facts at all.
Sports writers /Journalists
A sports writer journalist has the responsibility to both entertain and inform people about what is occurring within the world of sports. Some sports writers focus on one particular sport whereas others write on all sports within a given area. Some sports writers are syndicated or are published in more than one newspaper and others may write for a local newspaper or even for a website, blog, magazine or TV show.
Sports writers may work freelance and sell individual stories to various news outlets or they may work for a given publication. Those sports writers that do freelance work pick their sporting events to cover, whereas those that work for a publication are usually assigned stories. Both types of sports writers have to be able to capture the excitement and interest of the reader as well as provide an accurate depiction of the sporting event or issue that they are writing on.
Sports writer must be willing to work
A sports writer must be willing to work long hours and still make deadlines for printing. Most writers now use computer word processing programs that make editing and revising a bit easier, and also allows for submissions by email to meet tight deadlines. Creativity, a very complete understanding of the sport, good rapport with athletes, coaches and managers as well as an ability to write are all important for a sports writer. An interest in news as well as keeping up-to-date on all issues with regards to the sports community is also important on a daily basis. Today it is a rewarding vocation which requires talented and skilled sports media professionals. To be a sport journalist you need to know inside out of your subject and have a passion to make a mark in this vocation
Sports Journalism reports on sports topics and events:
Attending games and sporting events to be able to write accurately and effectively on the events of the game. Writing insightful, informative and original stories on various aspects of sports from human interest on up to game day results. Researching, networking and developing contacts in the sporting world that can provide accurate and up-to-date information on various aspects of the sport. Meeting with publishers, editors and writing teams to develop and obtain assignments or ideas for possible stories. Keeping in constant contact with athletes, owners, coaches and managers and using high ethical standards to avoid compromising the writing. As the name suggests, Sports Journalism reports on sports topics and events and it is an essential element of any news media organization. Today career in sports is at its boom and which also brings wonderful career opportunities for sports journalists as well. Television, radio, magazines, internet have become an integral part of people’s life. Many of them are ardent fans of different sports; they switch to TV, sports websites, newspaper for getting latest updates and news in their sports. Thus, the scope of sports journalism is increasing gradually.
Sports Journalism has turned into long form writing
Today Sports Journalism has turned into long form writing, it also produces popular books on sports which include biographies, history and investigations. Many western countries have their own national association of sports journalists. In India there has been recent growth in Sports Journalism. The sports column in various leading newspapers is widely popular among readers. Indians today not just appreciate cricket but they have also understood the importance of other sports also like football, hockey, wrestling, boxing etc.
You could go for a degree in sports journalism which could enhance your writing and reporting skills and also trains you efficiently in the areas sports. You would learn to write technical details about a sport in a simple manner. One could also opt for journalism and match reporting course which deals with going to sport games, sporting events, and venues, meeting with players then reporting all this to sports crazy audience.
Career opportunities in sports journalism
The career opportunities in sports journalism are match reporter, freelance sports journalist and sports writer. You would get to work in newspaper, radio, TV, magazines and online journalism.
As the conclusion, sport is one of the well-published issues in the Net. Sport issues gain a lot of publicity and discussions in the media. The examples are numerous: thousands of football news article depict the reactions of trainers to a particular event. Important soccer games are an everyday issue in TV channels. New technologies are used everywhere in coverage of sports: tennis streaming video presents the particular strokes of favored tennis star like Maria Sharapova.
Role the Media plays in Sports
At the days of serious matches, fans enjoy watching the game of their favored teams in tennis or football online. We might ask ourselves: what is the role the Media plays in Sport? One probable answer would be that the media successfully exploits the public need for entertainment. People have always felt the need to be entertained, starting from the days of gladiators, when the public’ general demand was to see people die in front of them in exchange for their money.
Sports news is the best possible entertainment
As the years went by, the forms of the entertainment changed and became less cruel, but the principle of the crowd asking for Panem et circenses “bread and circuses”remained the same. In this matter, sports news is the best possible entertainment, and watching sport online or on TV is the best possible way to witness the actual thing happening.
And here comes the next possible answer: media adheres to the needs of the wide public, fulfilling the desire to watch the “actual thing” on-line. Although a football match might occur in Milano, and tennis game may take place in Moscow, media brings the tennis game and the football match straight to your living room, without the need to get up from sofa and buy the ticket to Milano or wherever you want to get to. Media makes use of our need to witness the actual thing by serving as a mediator between the sporting event, which happens somewhere out there, and us, the viewers. Being a central part of our everyday experience, media brings sports coverage to our living room and shows it to us whenever we choose.Sports journalism has the potential to grow exponentially; and as analytics becomes more descriptive and in-depth, who knows what the future will hold for the creation and dissemination of data-driven sports journalism.

ABOUT; South Asia Sports Journalists Association SASJA

The South Asia Sports Journalists Association SASJA represents sports journalists across South Asia. SAJA was formed at Islamabad during the South Asian Games Islamabad Pakistan on April 1st; 2004.Asghar Ali Mubarak was unanimously elected its founder president. The brain child idea ‘’peace through sports journalism’’ in South Asia was given by the founder president SASJA.Asghar Ali Mubarak. The South Asian Games Islamabad Pakistan was delayed twice due to conflicts between the Pakistani alliance with Afghanistan and US foreign policy at the time during the events that followed 9/11.The SAJA is covering sports since its creation also awareness of sports culture among South Asian nations with favor or fear. South Asia Sports Journalists Association body has requested for an affiliation with the Association Internationale de la Press Sportive (AIPS).
WHO IS IT FOR?
Membership is open to for sports editor, sub-editors, photographers, presenters, free lancers, producers ,internet sports editors, cameramen, editors ,working in national and regional press, sports magazines, radio , television, cartoonists, sports columnist ,sports analysts, sports critics, commentators, web channels and smarts phone sports correspondents etc based in Asia, a significant proportion of whose worked for the promotion of sports. The SASJA is an essential service for all sports journalists – writers, sub-editors, photographers, presenters, producers, cameramen and editors – working in national and regional press, magazines, radio and television.
The South Asia Sports Journalists Association SASJA encourages all members.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
The South Asia Sports Journalists Association also acts as a sports consultant to organizers of major events who need guidance on media requirements.
In addition South Asia Sports Journalists Association organizes many awards functions .The SASJA Awards are widely regarded as the ‘Lux style award’ of the media industry.
The South Asia Sports Journalists Association is recognized by many prestigious sports organisations.
DO YOU QUALIFY?
All applications for membership of the South Asia Sports Journalists Association must be proposed and seconded by current SASJA members, and accompanied by three examples of your work, professionally published within the past. Broadcasters may submit three digital audio or video clips by email.
The South Asia Sports Journalists Association will accept a signed covering letter from a current sports editor or relevant department head.
SASJA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP?
Associate membership is available to those in allied or related sports work, such as public relations or working as sports press officers, sports professionals, or to students undertaking degree courses in journalism or working on college publications, but not yet in full-time employment.
Associate members have their profile published in the SASJA Yearbook, and they receive a free copy of the Yearbook, as well as receiving regular SASJA email bulletins, with details of the Association’s activities, including early notification of our events.
SASJA associate members may attend, but they have no voting rights, at the Association’s annual meeting. Nor may associate members vote for the Sportsman, Sportswoman or Team of the Year. Associate members do not qualify for AIPS membership, and nor do they receive the Press Card.
It is understood that it may not be possible for applicants for associate membership to complete the application form with a proposer or seconder. In that case, applicants should obtain a covering letter from their sports editor, employer or university lecturer.