Students are expected to complete all assigned reporting, writing, and participation requirements at a professional standard. This course is structured to mirror the expectations of a working sports newsroom, including deadlines, accuracy, collaboration, and revision.
1. Class Participation & Beat Coverage
Each student will actively participate in class discussions and newsroom-style activities throughout the semester. Students are expected to stay informed on current events, breaking news, and trends across the sports media landscape and contribute meaningfully to class discussions, writing exercises, and peer critiques.
Participation includes:
- Regular attendance and punctuality
- Prepared engagement in discussions and workshops
- Active involvement in peer feedback and story critiques
- Professional conduct consistent with a newsroom environment
2. Event Coverage / Game Stories
Students will complete multiple event coverage assignments, reporting on live sporting events (including SUU athletics and other approved competitions). These assignments emphasize deadline writing, accuracy, and on-site reporting.
Students are responsible for:
- Attending assigned events
- Reporting accurately and ethically
- Submitting stories by strict deadlines
- Notifying the instructor in advance of any unavoidable conflicts
Failure to complete event coverage as assigned will negatively impact the final grade.
3. Current Issues Writing
Students will produce short-form blog or news analysis posts responding to current sports issues, trends, or breaking news. These pieces must move beyond opinion and demonstrate strong reporting, contextualization, and synthesis of multiple perspectives.
Blog posts will be:
- Discussed and critiqued in class
- Used as foundations for class discussion and writing development
4. Feature Story / Profile
Students will write a 750–1,000 word sports-related profile focusing on an individual connected to sports (e.g., athlete, coach, administrator, student, or community figure).
Requirements include:
- At least one in-depth interview with the subject
- At least two additional sources
- A focus in the subject’s life, identity, or experiences beyond competition
5. Additional Journalism Assignments
Throughout the semester, students will complete shorter reporting and writing assignments designed to build foundational skills across multiple sports media formats. These may include:
- Game stories
- Columns
- Sidebars
- Book or media reviews
- Podcasts or audio stories
6. Enterprise Final Project
The culminating project is a 1,000-word enterprise story examining a trend, issue, or broader topic in sports. The project must demonstrate original reporting, depth, and professional storytelling.
Requirements include:
- At least three sources
- A 500-word sidebar
- At least one multimedia element (video, photo gallery, podcast, audio slideshow, or infographic)
Students may earn up to 5% extra credit on their final course grade for incorporating additional high-quality multimedia elements.
7. Drafts & Revisions
All major writing assignments will be completed in multiple drafts. Students are expected to:
- Submit initial drafts on time
- Incorporate instructor and peer feedback
- Demonstrate substantive improvement in final submissions
Revision is a required part of the reporting and writing process and is treated as a professional expectation rather than an optional opportunity.