I had the opportunity to interview Mike Ramczyk who is the sports editor at my local newspaper, the Lake Geneva Regional News. I got to ask him questions about sports and covering sports on a local basis as well as state wide. Mike's answers were very informative and quite interesting in regards to sports journalism and sports media.
Q: Why and how did you choose sports writing as a career?
A: I chose it as a career because I have loved sports my whole life. I also enjoyed reading the stats and scores in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. I used to write down the games and stat leaders for pro football every Sunday, and I would predict the winners and keep my record. As a junior at UW-Whitewater, I chose Journalism as my major because I had already worked in it and I loved it.
Q: Did you play any sports growing up and if so, what?
A: Yes, I played just about every sport, including soccer when I was 8, high school baseball, football, basketball and track, and I’ve golfed plenty of times. I love winning in sports and being competitive.
Q: What is your biggest challenge in sports writing?
A: My biggest challenge in sports writing is making a story interesting enough for someone not related to the topic to read it. I know parents want to read about their kids, but it’s hard to interest the person who doesn’t like sports.
Q: Do you ever experience writer's block and if so, how do you overcome it?
A: Not so much, but there are times when I don’t know how to express what I want to say. I will simply jot down some notes or move on to another story then come back to the one I had trouble with.
Q: What is your favorite sport and favorite sport to write about?
A: My favorite sport to play is baseball. My favorite sport to watch is football, and my favorite sport to write about is football. People absolutely love football, and there is so much action and emotion that goes into coaches and players on and off the field.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who was looking into entering the field of sports media or journalism?
A: Only do it if you love sports and love writing. It’s not the most lucrative field, but it is very fulfilling. Also, it’s hard to get into, so you have to start small and work your way up. I would say start at your college newspaper then show those clips to your local paper. Eventually, a break will come your way. I covered small-town stuff for two years before the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offered me an entry-level job. Now I’m a sports editor. It took me five years to become a sports editor for a full-time job.
Q: What is your routine for writing a story or covering a game or team?
A: For covering a football game for example, I actually roam the sideline taking pictures of the action. With any noteworthy play, I jot down what happened in my notebook. Then, after the game, I interview coaches and players with a digital recorder. Finally, I use my notes, what I physically saw and my comments to formulate a story. I’d start with the lead, which is who won and why they won. Then, I write about what else happened in descending order of importance.
Q:What is your most fond memory involving your job and/or sports writing in general?
A: So far, it is a tie between meeting and interviewing Ryan Braun of the Brewers and covering a Wisconsin Badgers football game. Braun was an awesome guy, and I felt professional. And the Badger game was sooooo exciting. There were 80,000 screaming fans all around me, and I was down on the field taking pictures. Also, the media room had about 50 writers, photographers and TV people. It was very exhilarating!
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