Covering Local Soccer Herald/The Star

Barlett

I'm currently looking to make the breakthrough into sports journalism. I know it's not the ideal time but I've heard covering local soccer games for the Herald/Star pullout is a good way to start if you get the chance!

Obviously I'd do it for free but I'm just wondering does anyone know who the editors are for such sections in the respective papers?

Any help is much appreciated!

jdivision

Don't do it free. Get paid for everything you do. Buy the paper and you'll see who the editors are.

theguy

From what I can gather its a long road to get into this type of work get the email address and submit photos on spec with the details of whats in the photo usual stuff bob of blog rovers tackles mick of some other team and soforth and then when youve done your best expect to get ignored lol but keep on doing it, but if i was you id start with the free newpapers that go around been published a few times using this method so this does work.....

Trouser_Press

Barlett wrote: »

I'm currently looking to make the breakthrough into sports journalism. I know it's not the ideal time but I've heard covering local soccer games for the Herald/Star pullout is a good way to start if you get the chance!

Barlett, I know from two freelancer pals that the Herald is always looking for stuff for its schools' sports pages - that might be a an area worth looking at.

If I was you I'd chance covering a few schools' games (football, GAA, whatever) and emailing in the copy - even if they don't use it they'll see that you know what you're doing and might use you again. Nothing to lose.

I don't have any contacts for the Herald but buy a copy and see what you can dig out.

And don't ever offer to do the work for free!

Best of luck.

ah,sure

Ring the office, then ask for the name of the sports editor.

The Star's is called Dave (forget surname) The secretary will tell you. Then simply get put through to the sports editor once you know his name, and talk to him.

Ring in the morning because you'll piss them off if you ring after 3.

Best of luck.

Xavi6

Don't forget there are local papers out there too. You don't have to start at 'the top'.

ah,sure

Very true.

But i guarantee if you tailor your work to a tabloid and set out covering national league stuff or whatever it is you want, once the paper prints it they'll use you ahead of the other guy.

Because most local journalists cannot write and it takes up all the subeditor's time fixing up the tripe that gets sent in.

Xavi6

ah,sure wrote: »

Very true.

But i guarantee if you tailor your work to a tabloid and set out covering national league stuff or whatever it is you want, once the paper prints it they'll use you ahead of the other guy.

Because most local journalists cannot write and it takes up all the subeditor's time fixing up the tripe that gets sent in.

Wow that's a serious generalisation. What is that based on?

And what makes you think that they don't already have people covering the national leagues who have been doing it for years?

ah,sure

Point taken! It's based on working as a sub.

Most of them are dedicated, professional and get stories in on time. But the standard of a lot is pretty rough, simply style-wise.

There are loads of lads doing them around the country and because they send content to ALL the papers, they do not tailor it.

Relationships can change quickly if someone starts delivering the goods in the right style, that's all I'm saying. If he's talking about submitting to the Star or the Herald, he should take on board what they print and simply do it.

Xavi6

ah,sure wrote: »

Point taken! It's based on working as a sub.

Most of them are dedicated, professional and get stories in on time. But the standard of a lot is pretty rough, simply style-wise.

I agree with you on that, but that could simply be down to them being in their first proper job in journalism straight out of college. That's how it was for me anyway, and I have to say I learnt a hell of a lot from the 3 years I did it for. Would definitely recommend it as a stepping stone.

ah,sure wrote: »

There are loads of lads doing them around the country and because they send content to ALL the papers, they do not tailor it.

Relationships can change quickly if someone starts delivering the goods in the right style, that's all I'm saying. If he's talking about submitting to the Star or the Herald, he should take on board what they print and simply do it.

Ha ha yeah and I'm sure we can all agree that their formula isn't exactly rocket science! :pac:

ah,sure

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ha ha yeah and I'm sure we can all agree that their formula isn't exactly rocket science! :pac:

A quirk in your work and you're laughin'!

ah,sure

Eoin Brannigan is the name of the sports ed in the star

Barlett

Thanks for all the feedback, was only expecting a couple of replies - I appreciate it a lot! Well I'd say a lot of it is about ability and determination. I've no problems in the determination department so hopefully my writing will impress!

bogmanfan

Eamon Scott runs the Junior Soccer section in the Herald. He's based in the out-sourced operation RE&D