Writing the Sports News Article (For Young Writers/Beginners)

By Earl Victor L. Rosero, veteran journalist and campus journalism advocate

There are two approaches or outlines that you can follow: the Straight News Article using the
Summary Lead and the Straight News + Comparative Descriptive Approach. The first approach is
covered by my other handout. I will discuss here the second way.
Straight News + Comparative Descriptive Approach
This approach will require you to write about 10 to 15 paragraphs (one paragraph having one or
two sentences). Start your article with the Summary Lead. The Sequence of Facts in your lead
shall answer these questions: Who won? Against whom? What are the final scores? Why did the
winner win? How did he win? When was the game? Where was the game held?
Throughout your article, it is better than you will use simple sentences and compound sentences,
so that it will be easier for you to tell the whole story.
Still using the Hierarchy of Facts Method, proceed to write the next five to seven paragraphs. The
lead and the seven paragraphs after it shall make up the first part of your article.
Part Two of your article shall describe the most important plays and actions by the winner in the
entire game. Write the plays/actions according to chronological order. This part shall have at least
four sentences/paragraphs. Include here one sentence quote from the player and one quote from
the coach. Include the stats about the key players of the team.
Part Three shall be about the most important plays and actions by the loser in the entire game.
Write the plays/actions according to chronological order. This part shall have at least four
sentences/paragraphs. Include here one sentence quote from the player and one quote from the
coach. Include the stats about the key players of the team.
Part Four shall have five seven paragraphs about the lessons learned by the players and coaches
from the game that happened. Also write about details of the next games of the winner and of the
loser, if the information about those next games is available. Include here one sentence quote
from the winning player and one quote from his/her coach. Also, one sentence quote from the
losing player and one quote from the coach. Sequence the quotes of the losing player and coach
before the winning player and coach. End with the quotes of the winner/s.
Total number of paragraphs would be about 20 to 30 depending on how many sentences you have
in each paragraph.

Tips/Pointers
Take down notes very well. The accuracy and flow of your article will depend a lot on your
notes. Get the stats from the first half of the game from the tournament officials during
the half-time break. Get the stats from the second half of the game from the tournament
officials after you have interviewed the coaches and players.
Organize your thoughts and then you sentences very well. The quality of your article will
depend a lot on how well you organize your thoughts and sentences. If you are
disorganized, you will lose. If you are organized, you will likely win.