Beyond the Game: Sports Today

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

How do you effectively cover a billion-dollar industry devoted to high-stakes games, die-hard fans and elite athletes? In this class, you will get a foundation for reporting on the world of sports, with a focus on writing: how to write scene, how to write with a voice, how to understand the social issues that permeate sports, and how to become a watchdog for wrongdoing in sports. You'll also learn about the sports media industry and its constant evolution. The class will be grounded in writing, but we’ll discuss multimedia, audio and television journalism, too. More than anything, get ready to read—and to talk about what you’ve read. The best way to become a good sports writer is to be a reader of good sports writing. Joan Niesen is a sports writer whose work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, online publications and podcasts over the course of her decade-long career. She most recently worked as a staff writer at Sports Illustrated, where she covered everything from football and hockey to golf to women's basketball.