You’ve got credentials. You’re working for a client and the people you meet with have generally heard of the clients before. Getting access should be simple. So what’s the issue?
Not every case works like that.
One of the most beautifully convenient elements of covering anything in Washington is this newfound access to sites that you could have never had in Chicago. If you’re one of those political reporters, all of your dreams can come true: You can walk on Capitol Hill and speak with senators, representatives and other important folks.
Camden Yards in Baltimore can help sports reporters in Washington understand the local sports scene.
That is, unless want to cover a sports story. Then, it’s trickier.
Most professional franchises and athletes are heavily covered by the mainstream media and all of the outlets. There’s really no shortage of coverage there. Even if you come up with an excellent enterprise story idea, logistically it’s challenging to get timely access without a media partner.
If you’re trying to put together a demo reel with sports clips on it, this can be a bit of a nightmare. You have to get on the same page as the clients and make a compelling case that you’ll make it happen.
For example, I decided the major stories for Washington baseball involve two players who are not on the club now: Bryce Harper, the wunderkind who gets covered by every outlet imaginable and is expected to transform the fate of the franchise. Then, there’s Stephen Strasburg, the young ace recovering from Tommy John surgery.
While accessing Harper for a story would be challenging enough, an article on Strasburg would be a great way to bring people up to speed about his rehabilitation. After pitching the story to WAMU in Washington as a radio story with video elements incorporated for the online presentation, I called the Nationals.
No, no one is doing a story on Strasburg, the media relations staff told me. General manager Mike Rizzo is providing regular updates on his blog. So, you cannot do the story. Goodbye.
The only issue: Rizzo was not providing these regular updates and the blog was only words and a few pictures. Why not show Washington fans that their prized pitcher is doing well and should make a full recovery?
Is Strasburg, if you pardon the pun, such a national treasure that all access needs to be kept under lock and key?
I understand the concern with granting a story to just anyone, but WAMU is a well-known station in Washington. The scrutiny that his rehab might fall under or the media circus that could ensue if the box was opened up to his progress could conceivably be great. I get that.
So, what lesson can be gleaned from all of this? You really need to stay on top of the sports scene, including the not-so-mainstream items. If I would have planned my story schedule a little bit more carefully, I could have begun covering the Maryland lacrosse team before they became regulars on SportsCenter. It’s all about staying ahead of the curve, and looking for the next big thing.
One weekend, I was able to attend a spinal research conference in Reston, Va. It was great to hear about all the research, but meeting former and current NFL players was especially cool for me. It’s these places where you can begin to find your stories. They’re not always obvious.
For the record, covering events in Washington is an unbelievable experience. I’m just here to provide guidance for those who follow in the future. If you want to cover a sports story, make sure you’ve got long-term aspirations, so the piece doesn’t go stale.
Travel a little bit. Go to Baltimore. Even if you’re just going there as a fan, Camden Yards is a terrific ballpark to see. It can help you understand more about the teams just by absorbing the atmosphere of a game. A capacity crowd feels way different than 10,000 fans.
The short advice: Look for the less mainstream sports stories, such as high schools or smaller colleges. These pieces can show off your story knowledge and demonstrate that you have the potential to do a quality piece at the next level.
So, as they say, stay in the loop on sports stories. Otherwise you’ll be thrown for one.
Jacob Peklo is a broadcast reporter for the Medill News Service in Washington covering an environmental beat. He will graduate in June with an MSJ from Medill.