The WWE Syndrome...

The more I watch ESPN the more I start to realize that it isn't about just reporting the facts anymore but its more about how the person says those facts and what style they use to express them in front of the camera.

If you don't do this then you either don't get as much air time or are just called upon to bring in the exclusive and breaking news.

I feel that sports journalism in terms of on television and also in online and print articles have strayed away from being just facts and news and more towards including the presentation of it and making the news entertaining to those watching and reading.

I would like to compare sports journalism to professional wrestling. Older fans of wrestling remember when you had wrestlers who focused more on skills and between the hero vs. villain aspect. Now its more geared towards entertainment and skills. The same can be said about sports journalism, especially on television.

If sports fans aren't entertained or interested when they watch sports reporters on television presenting the news then they are likely going to turn it off or not even read it and go for just quick updates on the internet. This has led to the popular reporters having to come up with something that sets them a part from the rest just so that they will get more airtime and more popularity.

Steven A. Smith just doesn't analyze teams but presents an attitude that suggests that he will tell you the truth even if it hurts. Most of the time I find myself watching him not because of the information he will tell me but just to hear who he will say "sucks" or is "soft". Even his headlines are entertaining. Here is one he did for ESPN magazine for example: So the NBA is getting whiter? I've got no problem with that.

Another example of this can be seen when he ripped Kwame Brown after Brown was traded to the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol.



Bill Simmons, ESPN columnist, is another writer that I feel adds entertainment value into his articles in addition to the facts that he presents. This has led him to getting a segment in ESPN's show 360. One he did recently was about Game 4 where he reported everything he felt at the hour during the game in a humorous manner (From exasperation to exclamation in 170 minutes).

Making it in sports journalism no longer about the abundance of facts you know but is now more focused on how you present those facts and whether or not it will interest the reader or viewer. Thats the only way you'll be able to separate yourself from others.

For more entertaining, yet factual sports columns check below:
Sport's Guy World
RealGM.com
ESPN.com