ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the skills and experiences applicable to sports reporting – and the specialist skills of the sports commentator. An understanding of these will help the general reporter called in to cover sports events. Some people make a distinction between sports journalism and sports broadcasting. In 2006, the British Broadcasting Corporation management brought sport within the remit of its journalism board – a recognition that sports are part of the mainstream news agenda. The broadcast journalist working on sports programmes is covered by different rules from news broadcasters – mainly because of sports rights contracts. Sports institutions and regulations are taught on specialist sports journalism degree courses. Sports commentary is available across all media, and the economics of media businesses mean that, for smaller audiences, commentators work alone. At big events, the location sports producer makes life easier for a commentator and his summariser.
