Please review this presentation by Dan Laird as you prepare to create your own Sports Feature Article.
A good sports lead contains
A highlight of the game
Two teams involved
Type of sport
Score or outcome
When the game was played
Where the game was played
Once the lead is written, keep talking about your best material and slowly work into the less important information
Remember that this does not need to be chronological
It is not necessary to give a play by play account. Not everything is interesting.
Tell a story
Cite a surprising statistic
Find a new twist on a common phrase
Relate to a topical theme
Make a strong declaration
Contradict conventional thinking
Pose a question
BE CREATIVE!
The NEWS RELATED Sports Lead (aka The Intro)
Things to Consider When Writing a Lead
Sample Lead
Should feature the most unusual happening in the game
What makes this game different from all the others?
Does not need to follow chronological order.
Start with where it’s interesting and then go back and catch us up
Quarterback Apollo Balboa and tailback Han Skywalker scored three touchdowns each as Balboa passed for 317 yards and Skywalker rushed for 187 in Indiana’s 55-29 romp over Jonesville last Saturday at home.
What Now?
Ending Your Story
Many sports stories normally end with an interesting or important quote from the coach or a key player or figure.
Keep it about people, not just statistics
The INFORMATIVE or HUMAN INTEREST Feature Lead
A summary may not be the best lead
A lead block of one or two paragraphs often begins a feature (Remember examples of clips we’ve seen)
Set a mood, arouse your readers, and invite them inside
A Few Keys to the
Sports Feature
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