Young sports journalist

[Mitch Lovell]

Hey HornsSports I'm a High School senior this year I'm looking to go into sports journalism or something of that type but I'm in North Dakota and there isn't much for interns I'm going to college in arkansas but anyways any tips on what I could /should do to maybe start on to start blogging or something like that any advice is welcome and appreciated thx!

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Mitch, good to have you.

Just because you live in North Dakota doesn't mean you can't write about what you love. I'm in TN and I still write game previews/predictions along with other articles (not to mention some outstanding movie reviews).

I would suggest writing some opinion pieces on the Longhorns and posting them on threads here. It's good practice and will certainly get you an audience that won't degrade and criticize you (although I still get my unfair share of criticism on my amazing movie reviews...but I digress).

Study the articles posted here and pay attention to the information highlighted throughout the various stories as it will give you a good idea of what you need to research. Also, focus on how the writers use sentence and paragraph structure in the articles, along with whether they are writing in first/second person, etc.

Hornsports is a perfect place to start.

 

[BudreauReye]

Hey, Mitch!  I do not have much to offer, other than to wish you good luck!  I am sure that, especially, some of the staff here at HornsSports will have some good information for you to chew on. 

A long, long time ago in a land far away, I started out as a Radio, TV, and Journalism major before I decided to get a Master's Degree in Architecture a number of years later after a detour of working as a social programs planner and grants proposal writer.  Journalism and mass media in general, is a great jumping off place for a lot of different professions.  Developing your skills to be able to express yourself with the written word and learning to present yourself and your ideas to others in person, individually, and in groups, will put you in good stead, no matter what you end up doing. 

Many colleges have newspapers and radio and TV stations where you may be able to get some experience, but frankly the world wide web offers more opportunities than you can imagine.  You just need to figure out what you want to say and then work on how to package it and present it.  Don't worry if you have no idea about what you may want to say, just find a way to get a variety of experience with content creation and with the technical end of things.  Experiment.  The "What you want to say." part will come to you in good time.

My wife knows a young woman here in Austin who had a tech background, but she really likes to cook, so she started doing webcasts in her kitchen putting together very discreet presentations about how to do very simple things, but she put it together in such a way that the overall scope of her webcasts presented a very comprehensive overview of cooking skills.  She did a good job.  Good enough to get noticed by Rachael Ray.

I have noticed your other posts, and I appreciate your enthusiasm and outlook on life.  Go get'em!  And, don't worry too much if it takes a while to figure things out.  Hell! I turn 65 in January and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do when I grow up!  Keep us posted on how things are going with you.

 

[joeywa]

Mitch,

You're gonna have to learn your clichés.

You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them.

They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time."

 

[BudreauReye]

I am sorry, joewa, but what you are saying is just deja vu all over again!  In fact, I seem to hear myself writing that once today already!

 

[joeywa]

I am sorry, joewa, but what you are saying is just deja vu all over again!  In fact, I seem to hear myself writing that once today already!

I must've missed it budreau.  Apologies. 

 

[Lord Vader]

I started here and did it for quite awhile before it took off. Sites like this or a small Rivals site near your area are great places to start. Dont be afraid to check out local newspapers and places like that. Its all about hustling and getting experience. 

 

[BudreauReye]

No! No!  Joewa!  No apologies necessary.  What I meant was that the thing about "clichés" is that you hear them over and over again ... it just so happens that I did write the "deja vu" thing earlier today on another thread.  I guess that the good thing about that is that for people who are not paying attention, they get to hear it in each ear before the day is out!  But, to tell you the truth, this day is getting to be just a tad Grounhogish!

 

[joeywa]

No! No!  Joewa!  No apologies necessary.  What I meant was that the thing about "clichés" is that you hear them over and over again ... it just so happens that I did write the "deja vu" thing earlier today on another thread.  I guess that the good thing about that is that for people who are not paying attention, they get to hear it in each ear before the day is out!  But, to tell you the truth, this day is getting to be just a tad Grounhogish!

Here's the meaning behind my post budreau; think you may have missed it

 

[BudreauReye]

Yes, I did miss it, but I guess that clip kind of proves both of our points since they really are the same point.  Besides, I do think, "... that things will work out."  Now, I feel like I am in a Monty Python sketch, set way down in the Deep South! 

 

[Mitch Lovell]

Thanks everyone for the support and input I think I'll do a thread after each game other than the ones on longhorn network (don't have longhorn network 😞) but I'll maybe write a little on the game I'm a huge texas fan for someone from North Dakota HOOK EM

 

[monarch]

happy to have you mitchlove1196!​

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I'm so glad so many stepped forward and offered this young man sound advice. Mitch was PM'ing me back during the Saban fiasco. I could tell then the young man was hardcore UT and more significantly, very mature for his age. Mitch is wise to seek wisdom from his elders. Not enough young people these days will do that.

Keep it up, Mitch. You're going to be a great one, whatever it is you end up doing.

I did 17 years in the news business. Before my first job, a publisher gave me some sound advice. He said make yourself indispensable. Learn how to do it all in your field. When I left him at age 18 and went to school, there was nothing at a newspaper I could not do, including running the press.

At it ended up, I was never asked to run a press. But the fact that I had and could made higher ups think of me in certain situations rather than others. When it came to being able to report and shoot photos at the same time (saving a photog), I was the first one they thought of. And so on . . . I found his advice was spot on and led me to many opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I left the news biz on my own terms and had accomplished what I set out to do.

 

[Mitch Lovell]

Thanks man really appreciate those kind words started watching them as a young kid in the VY era cuz I realized being a arkansas fan wasn't gonna cut it my dad is from there so he likes the hogs but I remember as a kid watching vy take over the game vs USC the Crabtree play was my first heart break and I'm one of those ppl that say if colt doesn't get hurt vs bama we win I'm ready to see what strong has I think he's the right guy

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Thanks man really appreciate those kind words started watching them as a young kid in the VY era cuz I realized being a arkansas fan wasn't gonna cut it my dad is from there so he likes the hogs but I remember as a kid watching vy take over the game vs USC the Crabtree play was my first heart break and I'm one of those ppl that say if colt doesn't get hurt vs bama we win I'm ready to see what strong has I think he's the right guy

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Check your inbox, Mitch.