ABSTRACT
In the past 20 years, the rise of the Internet as a source for news has greatly affected newspaper sports departments across the country by changing the way news is delivered to consumers. This fundamental shift has led to profound changes. Newspaper circulation numbers have dropped dramatically. Sports fans have more options – and more voice – in the sports news marketplace. Technology allows consumers to access sports news in new and different ways. For the newspaper journalist, these changes have changed the nature of the business. Reporters and editors have had to adapt to changing technology and news consumption patterns. They have worked to change the ways they cover sports, and they have had to perform their jobs with fewer resources. The result is that newspapers’ sports departments are constantly moving to meet the demands of the sports consumer while working with shrinking budgets. And while some may have predicted the end of the industry, newspapers are looking to dig in and hang on as they figure out their next steps. This chapter outlines the challenges sports print journalists face as they look into an uncertain future.
