Myths in sports broadcasting
Introduction
It is exciting whenever one turns on a television or radio and watches or listens to their favorite sports. Professional and reports discuss and commentate the live sporting event. Whether it involves sideline reporters, color analysis, play-by-play announcers, or talent in the main studio, all these are accompanied by misconceptions and myths. As sporting events continue to evolve, at is attracting more and more people who want to become sports broadcasters. For instance, there is a lot of glamor surrounding the television, and the lure of being a celebrity is increasingly becoming enticing. Also, there are a lot of reports circulating in the mainstream media and social networking sites of how sportscasters earn millions of dollars, making sportscasting a lucrative career. It is also important to note that young people find themselves torn between covering and watching sports. Therefore, this paper examines common myths and misconceptions about sportscasting – things that are commonly assumed about the career.
Origin of sports broadcasting
The origin of sports broadcasting can be traced back to Lawrence, Kansas, in 1911 when over on thousand spectators gathered to watch a reproduction of a football game involving Kansas vs. Missouri when the game was being played live (Slotten, 486). A telegraph wire was set up by Western Union in Missouri. Several people would announce the happenings of the game after each play, and they mapped it out using a football field’s model. At the same time, this information was telegraphed back to football lovers that were waiting in Lawrence (Cryan, 213). This event provided a ground where larger world sporting broadcasting we have today was conceptualized.
Myths surrounding sports broadcasting
The first myth surrounding sports broadcasting is that sportscasters get rich quickly. Most of the sportscasters are indeed rich people. Studies have shown that around one percent of sportscasters earn money ranging in millions of dollars. Also, they travel the world a lot and are treated to royal receptions wherever they go. However, these one percent comes from long-term veterans (legends) of particular schools, stations, or team. Besides, they are top network announcers most of the time. For the remaining 99%, most of them are just lucky if they make age in annual salary (Oakham, 39). The long-held rule of thumb reveals that any sportscaster who earns more than his age then he will be considered to be doing very well. For instance, if one is 30 years old and he is making above thirty thousand dollars, then he is assumed to be doing just fine. The rule of the thumb in sports broadcasting career also suggests that one can be in the prime of his career, but it will not be surprising to see him struggling to make ends meet. Also, they may not have even traveled the world leave alone, leaving their states.
The second common misconception in sports broadcasting is that one just needs to show up, and that will be enough to call the game. This statement does not even come close. For instance, for every hour that an individual spends on air, he requires three to four hours of preparation and research such that whenever he takes on air he will be speaking from an information’s point of view. Rendering to Gratton (12), this time gives an individual an opportunity for memorizing rosters, conducting stat research, preparing spotting boards, reading blog articles and newspapers, as well as other necessary items. This is just the preparation before the time of broadcasting the game. This preparation is never easy, and it is not just sitting down for two to six hours before the beginning of the game and cramming. It entails more than showing up, and the preparation procedures are a daily activity that has to be consistent. Most sportscasters budget their time accordingly, especially when they know their schedule, and this helps them to not only adequately prepare but also deliver effectively.
Some preparations are always ongoing and not just restricted to a place of work. Sportscasters are required to keep up with current trends and results, league leaders, and players of the week as well as other relevant information from their area of specialization as far as broadcasting is concerned. According to Gelb (208), whenever the games are coming up on their schedules, sportscasters are required to conduct a team specific research to understand the team players, the coaching staff, the format they play, number of wins or losses, their current forms, statistics of the meetings of the team before, and what their fans expect among others. This activity has to take place one or two days before the game to get everything needed for the game ready. After that, the sportscaster should finalize his notes may in an hour or two before the game starts.
When it comes to road trips, where the sportscaster is expected to cover more teams in one weekend, it requires a short-term memory to deliver in all games effectively. For instance, he is required to look ahead to the relevant storylines as soon as one game ends. Some of the issues he has to deal with include whether the next opponent won or lost in the previous outing, the record of the teams as far as their last five or ten matches are concerned, their key players, how they are trending, and how the strengths of the two teams match up. These explanations deconstruct the misconception that one just needs to show up, and that will be enough to call the game to be a sportscaster.
The third misconception is that it is a great way to watch games and follow sports. This one may be technically true. However, it is included in the myth category because of one reason – sportscaster does not actually watch the game. If there are sportscasters who watch the game, then they do so for the entertainment value. They watch the game as a way of escaping from social occasions or work week to have a good time with families and friends. This evidence then distinguishes between watching the game and broadcasting a game (Van Ostade, 7). It is entertainment in the former and works in the latter. This may be a small distinction if viewed from an outsider’s point of view, but it can be likened to a movie director for more clarity. A movie director may love to go to movies. He may also be excited by movie storylines and action sequences. However, if he is directing his own movie, the probability of being less entertained and more focused is high.
The same scenario applies for sportscasters. For instance, even though they may be excited when their favorite team scores a goal, they still need to be professional, knowing they are being watched or listened to by fans of both sides. They are supposed to maintain a certain level of control and measure what they say (Piasek, 3). Therefore, whether they follow sports in the strictest sense and paid to watch the game, they are still working. For instance, they are supposed to be filling in the score sheet when their home team scores and not cheering, they will also be watching the celebration of the team to ascertain the scorer, thinking how they are going to describe the goal and how it was taken to the audience, sensing how they will describe the reaction of the crowd, and certainly not cheering out loudly or high fiving with those around them. Therefore, it is not a great way to watch games and follow sports.
The fourth common myth in sports broadcasting is that one needs to go to college and get a degree or masters in sports broadcasting. Even though this one could also be true, it also depends on where one lives. For instance, in Canada, it seems less important to go to college and study sports broadcasting to do play to play as compared to real-life experiences, especially at lower levels. However, in the United States of America, there is a general feeling in the public that the employers may not even look at you if you do not have a degree in sports broadcasting. It is important to note that some sportscasters started as volunteers on weekends and evenings by covering games, especially for their local indoor soccer teams. As a consequence, they moved to mainstream sporting events in the later years.
Also, even though some sportscasters went to school, studied television production, or studied courses in sports broadcasting, most of them do not have a degree in journalism or radio. Some of them do not even have formal training as far as presentation is concerned. Some sportscasters have stated that they took part in debating clubs in their early days in school, involved in public speaking, or performed in drama festivals, and these helped them in shaping what they have become. However, they do not have any piece of academic paper showing that they can do what they are doing. Most legendary sportscasters used their extra time to move their careers forward and also building on the experience they get from sports broadcasting game after game.
The fifth common myth surrounding sports broadcasting is that it is easy. According to Cater (212), it is essential to note that sportscasters can do around twenty to a hundred games per season, depending on not only their sport but also their level. This number of games is possible between four to six months provided that one is covering only one sport. This myth is deconstructed by just the workload alone. However, on a single weekend in the course of the season, decent bed rest is considered a luxury. This is only to demonstrate how strenuous sports broadcasting is. For instance, a sportscaster spends three hours on air, working at their job station for like six hours, preparing at the rink three hours before the game, recapping the story for the newspaper or website, editing highlight to be sent to the television and radios (video and audio). By the time everything is done, it will be 2 a.m., and the cycle continues. It is also important to note that they are also charged with the responsibilities conducting and recording interviews – which also requires thorough preparations. They are also required to travel to the next venue and doing anything that their job deserves (Guttmann, 42). Being on the road trip may be enticing, especially the hotel life. However, one is cut from family and friends, he misses parties and dinners, misses performances of their children, and spend a lot of time from their partners – it is a challenging job.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the negative theme presented by the five myths in sports broadcasting, the career is worth it. Most sportscasters have revealed that they love their work and would give up anything for it. They claim that sportscasting gives them the job satisfaction they need. For instance, they feel so good when they receive an unsolicited compliment from sports fans, friends, parents, or players they cover as far as enjoying their work is concerned. There is also the satisfaction or the enjoyment of being the voice of the team as well as a community where the sportscasters are associated with. It is also important to note that sportscasters have the benefits of walking into the arena, checking their names off a list, or flashing a media pass. This makes them feel appreciated and among the Very Important Persons (VIP) in society. Also, even though sportscasters are working, they are paid to broadcast different sporting events. They see incredible things, and travel to fantastic places as well as meeting beautiful peoples in the world.
As a consequence, there is a reward they get for working hard and providing relevant information to their audiences whenever necessary. Finally, Gould (6) observes that it is essential to understand that sports broadcasting is just like all other industries, and hard work is rewarded. Therefore, when a sportscaster has the ability to balance everything in their lives, minimized absenteeism, delayed or lack of sleep, and other challenges that the industry presents, then they make a good name in the sports broadcasting industry.
Work Cited
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