Media Coverage of Sports Events

Course description

Qatar will once again be the focal point for sports fans from various countries. Following its hosting of the FIFA World Cup last December, which attracted global audiences, Qatar is set to shine again on the Asian continent as it hosts the AFC Asian Cup in mid-January next year.

This is another significant sporting event on Qatari soil, requiring journalists to possess specific techniques and skills for the necessary on-field coverage. This applies both inside the stadium and its surrounding areas. We will focus on learning and practicing these skills during our five-day course, culminating in a project presented by the trainee at the end of the course.

Course Outline

Module One: Stages of planning for field coverage: From obtaining necessary permits for coverage to executing the required coverage for any media outlet, following its editorial line.

Module Two: The qualities and characteristics required in a sports correspondent, including accuracy, integrity, comprehensive sports culture, and understanding of the rules of each type of sport covered in the field.

Module Three: Television reporting: How to produce a television report on a specific sports event (match, fan celebrations, etc.), from selecting images to writing the report and editing.

Module Four: On-camera presence (live or recorded reporting): Its features, characteristics, and techniques.

Module Five: Characteristics of radio coverage, as well as online and social media coverage.

The course concludes with the trainees presenting a graduation project.

Course Objectives

The course aims to achieve the following objectives:

Learn how to plan for field coverage of a sports event.
Understand the techniques, skills, and attributes required in a sports correspondent.
Recognize different forms of field coverage (for television, radio, and websites).
Understand the characteristics of each sport to ensure coverage is conducted appropriately.

Acquired Skills

The ability to distinguish between various media outlets, from television to radio and websites, in terms of field coverage of sports events.
Possessing the skill of presenting well in front of the camera for field correspondents or anchors, and the ability to write sports reports for television.
Choosing appropriate angles for field coverage.
Understanding the nature of the relationship between the field correspondent and the newsroom or editorial team.
Learning the basics of editing and photography.