There were over 37,000 participants at this year’s ING New York City Marathon—and likely thousands more stories and perspectives to write about.
The media center at Tavern on the Green, Central Park issued 2,800 media credentials to cover these stories.
These 2,800 people working together in one centralized location to not only watch the race, but also to cover all angles of the marathon, which, for the professionals, take a little more than two hours to complete.
Sitting near my desk was a reporter from London, covering Paula Radclife, the 33-year-old female runner racing in the marathon only nine months following the birth of her daughter, Isla. Next to me was a Queens Chronicle reporter, interested in runners from Queens. Two seats down was a man writing on the corporate aspect of the race, which had dozens of sponsors from ING, the title sponsor, to Hugo Boss, the official business attire and fragrance sponsor for the event.
There were so many stories that all related to this one event. The New York Times had 12 writers stationed at the media center during the entire race, in addition to the dozens of Times writers and photographers out on the course.
The Times devoted an entire section to the marathon in the November 5 edition. The only person who probably had little to write about was me, a high school journalist who couldn’t find a link between the marathon and Stuyvesant High School.
What I did find is a reason not to give up on student media, especially regarding sports, a subject that most people see as a coin flip of who wins or loses, ignoring the how and why. In contrast to professional sports, most stories in school sports often die without being read or questioned.
I have spoken to a number of students who have often said the unforgivable words, “Sorry, I don’t read sports.” But during the past few weeks, seven of Stuyvesant sports teams either won or lost in the playoffs, two of them winning a city championship, most of their stories largely ignored.
For journalists like me, school sports are an endless marathon where the world around them serves as our media center. As writers, we take full responsibility for not going the extra mile to capture the attention of readers, sports and non-sports fans alike.
But what I have learned as a member of the media at the marathon is that all of us, including players, coaches and spectators, can help to keep a story running.
Start by making school sports teams more accessible to the media. Student media lacks the resources to have press conferences that most sports journalists enjoy at games. It would be appreciated if players, especially the captains, and coaches not rush to the locker room to be home sooner. Rather, being available to reporters for questions after the game would be convenient and helpful.
The time during interviews is most important because it serves to clarify and layer the game. Quotes give something that the neither game nor statistics can give. Radcliffe did not just win the marathon, she ran for over two hours with Ethiopia’s Gete Wami until Radcliffe broke away from her with 800 meters left.
At the press conference immediately after, the media learned much more about her win as well as her life.
“Childbirth actually was more frustration than pain for me because it went on so long,” Radcliffe said. “It was a good day for racing. I felt stronger coming back after the pregnancy.”
In contrast, players usually give classic quotes like, “We lost so we didn’t play well today,” or “It feels good to win.” If an athlete talks about a game like a coin-flip, readers and fans will take it the same way. Let the reporter write that a team won or lost, while players should tell them something a reporter wouldn’t know.
Reporters need to know statistics, too. The media center had many sources of timekeepers and record keepers. Student media can only work with the few statistics available from the Public Schools Athletics League (PSAL).
This makes the job of managers and stat keepers very important. Many athletes complain that the statistics on the PSAL’s website are inaccurate. In reality, most statistics are recorded by the team managers manually. Student media places high value on these record keepers so it is important that they remain accurate and available.
One of the most important ways to improve student media in general is input from fans and readers, aspect that the media cannot function without. Readers should not be afraid to give suggestions to reporters and editors, whose job it is to serve the public.
Fans, too, are responsible to help the media do its job. Two million spectators lined the streets of New York City to cheer on the runners. Many professional athletes have said that their sport would not be enjoyable without fans. They are an integral part of sports as much as the media is, possibly even more.
Reporters have a job, but they can’t do it alone. Excellent coverage of sports requires the cooperation of coaches, players and its fans. Without these aspects, sports may never reach the finish line.