Sports Journalism History

    Journalism and sports have always had a connection, even in the early days of sports, where sports boiled down to simple things people could do to entertain themselves or gamble with others. The most popular early sporting events were the Olympics in Greece, where different stats and accomplishments for the time were written in poetry form.

    The current basis for sports journalism really came into shape during the 1800's, where journalists would write about events such as boxing and horseracing, and place it besides politics, giving people a needed distraction considering how much politics ruled the space at this time

    The first sports-centered newspaper, "The Sporting Magazine," was published in 1803 in London, covering the sports that ruled the medium at this time, like boxing and horse racing, as well as cricket, which is one of the many sports that would find its footing in the 1800's

    Around the late 1800's, team sports started to gain popularity in the US, starting with baseball, that has gained the moniker "America's Pastime." In the years to follow, baseball would gain more and more media traction, with radio broadcasts and TV eventually coming later. 

    So now fast forward to today, where sports is a permanent part of most people's routines, whether it comes to playing, watching, or just conversating, media and journalism play a big part in how people consume their sports knowledge. 

EOTO POST

     In the history of Journalism and writing, no type of writing has stood the test of time like "yellow journalism," and we have men like William Randolph Hearst to thank for this, helping create a new style of Journalism through his paper "The New York Journal."

    Hearst was born in 1863 in San Francisco, California to his father George and Mother Phoebe. He was set up for success at an early age, as not only was his father a state Senator, he also owned a gold mine, meaning Hearst grew up with money, which was extremely beneficial for the time. 

Hearst then went to Harvard, which while it was an extreme accomplishment back then, he squandered it, getting expelled for throwing large parties and having disagreements with teachers. This did not deter young Hearst however, as he went into the publishing game, and his success was imminent.

He took over the "San Francisco Examiner," a paper that was bought by his father in 1880 and took it to greatness. Once William took over in 1887, the paper began to make a comeback, mostly due to Hearst's style of writing. The Examiner is still around today

Hearst's style of "yellow journalism" had become popular, as it is a way of writing exaggerated pieces, that may keep readers more interested. Pair that with the goal of trying to hit every demographic, and Hearst, along with his biggest competitor Joseph Pulitzer, became titans of the industry. While the examiner became popular, Hearsts real success came in the big Apple.

    In 1895 Hearst bought the New York City Morning Journal, and just like he did with the Examiner, turned it into an extremely successful paper​, taking it worldwide and competing with Joseph Pulitzer for the biggest empire in New York. He rebranded it to just the "New York Journal," and rocked New York with yellow Journalism

    The Journal became such an important cog in the bustling city that was New York, as Hearst became an icon, the paper became truly other-worldly. The Journal was reaching other continents, one of the first of its kind. Hearst was so famous that the classic move, Citizen Kane, is roughly based on Hearst.

    But like all good things, Hearsts run came to an end, with the depression being a big factor towards him selling most of his shares, and disappearing into obscurity

    While Hearst stayed private until his death in 1951, his reputation and legacy proceeds him, as one of the greatest minds in journalism we've ever seen.

Me in 500 Words

Growing up, I knew what I wanted to do, I just didn't know how I was going to get there, or where this passion would take me. Growing up in New York, I loved sports from an early age due to not only general interest, but also through my father, as watching and playing sports was a good way for us to become as close as we are now. But he isn't the only person who's shaped this journey. 

I went to Catholic school pretty much my whole life, and that kept me with the same 15 friends my whole life, and that has stretched to now, where these are still people who mold the way I live life, and have always been there for me, through good and bad. 

 

While my life so far has been pretty normal, I have strived to always improve myself day by day, whether it's through hard work, or just giving myself time to let off some steam, I feel as though the good and bad have gotten me to where I am.  

 

I’ve always been pretty invested in helping people, which is why over the years I’ve taken up many different pastimes in order to fulfill this goal, including but not limited to helping out at my local church, as well as food banks and soup kitchens 

 

My love for sports had lead me to play for the first few years of my schooling, and while I was never the best, I always had a great time bonding with my friends and father, and of course feeling the sweet and savory taste of winning, a sentiment I’m sure I share with others. 

 

So that brings me to around my 6th grade year, when I realized that while playing sports isn't a sustainable goal, there may be something in the sports realm that is, which is why I told myself I wanted to major in sports media in College. 

 

So High School went by, and while it was stressful at times, I still enjoyed most of my time with friends in high school, and I was ready to go off into the real world, and make my mark in college 

 

So, I commit to high point, and this decision would prove to be a great one, as not only have a made great friends here, through my fraternity and other endeavors, but I also have been able to successfully find ways to progress in my major... well, majors 

 

After a couple weeks at High Point, I decided to become a double major, and also commit to journalism. One of my biggest strengths is my writing capabilities, and there was no better way to hone that even more, than to pick up journalism as a second major. 

 

So, While I know my journey is far from over, I know that what has brought me towards this point is still going to continue to support me, and for that I’m forever grateful