ALLYSSA- Research Document:
For my live report project, I have decided
to film and centre mine around the Royal Holloway Sunday League
football event, which is a weekly event where anyone from the
university can form and team, play and compete against others in
football. Since there are many teams involved in Sunday League, I have
decided to focus my live report on one specific team and will be live
reporting on Instagram.
Preparation and Production notes/plan:
I want
to capture the energy as well as the dynamic of the team through
filming parts of the game, as well as interviewing some of the team
members before and after the game in order to also get an insight into
their individual thought processes and opinions on the match. To prep
for my interview aspect of the live report, I have managed to think of
a few questions.
I plan on asking a few questions before the game:
I plan on structuring the live report by first introducing the event, which is Sunday League to the viewers, and continue to film as I make my way onto the pitch. I will then scout for some of the players on the particular team I will be focusing on and do a pre-game interview with some of the players and including the captain. After this, once the game starts, I will continue to film and give live updates on the game through some footage of the match and commentary over it. I will be using a range of shot and angle styles such as long and close-up shots for when filming the actual match, shoulder level shots, medium close ups and low angles for any candid moments as the team is planning and discussing their strategies for the game. And lastly, some medium close-up shots for when shooting the interview part.
Case Studies and Research for inspiration:
As someone who has recently gotten into watching sports matches, particularly football, and after watching quite a few interviews from BBC sports, Premier League, UEFA competitions, etc. I have realised how male dominated the sports journalism field is. A reporter who particularly stood out to me was Emma Saunders, she is known for her engaging matchday commentary and in-depth interviews with players and managers at Sky Sports football and Premier League productions. I really like the energy she brings and her interview style; and I also admire the fact that she can engage her viewers through her ability to break down the game whilst still maintaining professionalism.
Another football reporter who also stood out to me, and will be taking inspiration from is Reshmin Chowdhury, who is a respected multilingual sports journalist who has covered UEFA competitions, BT Sport, and BBC Sport. I really admire her ability to navigate big football events and conduct high-profile interviews. I also really like Chowdhury’s professional interview style as she comes off as very calm and professional when speaking to players and coaches at games.
Lastly, although she is not directly involved in football, and instead does interviews for Formula 1, I also admire Lissie Mackintosh and the insight she has bought into the world of F1 through her interviews. I really like how she brings a more youthful, engaging and social media friendly approach to sports journalism, her interviews and videos are very fun and engaging to watch. Her confidence and poise in interviews are also something I admire. All three journalists I have researched upon and taken inspiration from have paved the way for more diverse voices in sports journalism and represent a new wave of female sports journalists who are making an impact in traditionally male-dominated fields, which I believe to be very important as well as admirable. Their work ethic and live reporting styles is something I would definitely try and incorporate into my own project.
These are some interviews I have watched from the interviewers I had mentioned and will take inspiration from:
"I hope next time I will act differently!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 16, 2025
Arne Slot reflects on his Merseyside derby red card ahead of Liverpool's clash with Wolves 🟥 pic.twitter.com/cAzlYFl0oo
Visuals, Sketches and Stills:
Bibliography
Zeynep RHULSports: Live Report American Football and University Life
For my live report project, I will be focusing on the university's 1st team American football training sessions.I’m doing this project because I want to show how playing sports at university can really help with adapting to university life and create a sense of unity. It’s not just about the sport itself, but how being part of a team can help you feel more connected to others and find a place where you belong. I would like to present it as a sports news format with a traditional daily television news touch, like what you’d see in professional coverage.This will be done through a YouTube channel, and I’ll go live to deliver the live report. I’ve chosen this format because it will be both informative and meaningful for students, as it enables in depth coverage of how sports shape student life.
Objectives of the Report:
Content overview :
The report will start with an introduction where I explain what the project is about, followed by footage from the training session. The footage will show different parts of the practice, such as skill drills, teamwork exercises, and how the players apply those techniques during games. As the video plays, I’ll be providing live commentary, explaining what’s happening in each segment.
After the training session, I’ll interview a few players to get their thoughts on how they performed, how the team works together, and how being on the team has affected their confidence, friendships, and university life in general. I’ll ask them about balancing academics with football, how being a part of the team has helped them develop leadership skills, and how teamwork influences both their on-field and off-field lives.
At the end of the report,to conclude, I will reflect on how sports go beyond just competition , they play a significant role in shaping individuals, making friendships, and promoting unity within the university community. I will then organize and edit the video to make it look like a live session on YouTube where I will provide a live report on the edited footage, discussing what I have learned from the experience and highlighting the key takeaways from the interviews.
Case Study/Drawing Inspiration from Influential Female Sports Journalists:
I’ve recently been getting into watching live sports discussions with my dad, and I find it really engaging when people share their thoughts while explaining a game or analyzing postgame moments. The breakdowns and discussions about what happened during a match are so interesting to me, especially when there’s a deeper level of insight into the players’ performance, strategies, and outcomes. Through this, I’ve noticed how much the field of sports journalism is still heavily dominated by male voices. However, there are some female sports journalists whose work has stood out to me, offering valuable lessons and a fresh perspective in this industry.
Gabby Logan has greatly influenced my understanding of how to combine professional reporting with engaging commentary. Her work on BBC Sport shows how to add depth to a story while keeping a dynamic presence. I admire how she blends clear analysis with storytelling, making complex topics accessible. Her professionalism and calm delivery make her a role model for aspiring sports journalists.
Another journalist who inspires me is Rachel Brown Finnis, particularly for her transition from player to journalist. Her experience as a former athlete gives her a unique perspective, especially in her coverage of women’s football. She brings authenticity to her reporting, blending technical insights with personal stories, which makes her coverage both relatable and insightful.
I've also looked into Laura Woods, a post-game interviewer for Sky Sports, who inspires me with her ability to ask insightful questions while keeping interviews relaxed and engaging. Her natural rapport with players and balance of professionalism and warmth makes her stand out in post match coverage.
Footage Inspiration:
Han Basketball Research:
I decided to focus on the Mens’ 1st basketball team at Royal Holloway University of London
(RHUL) and research into the sport of Basketball. For my live report,
I plan to attend the LUSL (London Universities Sports League) cup
finals and report on the Royal Holloway University of London versus
Kings’ College London Men’s Basketball game.
Preparation and Production notes/plan:
Key aspects that I want to report on during the game are major plays of the game, the most
valued player of the game/ the player who scored a majority of the
points, the half-time show and also include interviews with members of
the team and spectators in the audience. Questions prepared for the
basketball team:
- What is your name and what position do you play on the team?
- How do you currently feel about the game?
- Who is your favourite basketball player?
- Who do you think will be the MVP (Most Valued Player) at the end of the match?
- Why have you come down to watch the game today?
- How do you feel about the game so far?
- Who do you think is the best player on the team?
I have chosen to use my phone to film the event as I want to capture it in the perspective of a person simply coming to support the team rather than filming at a professional level with high-res camera quality. I understand that parts of the video report may contain inconsistent levels of quality due to the restrictions of filming on a phone with a low-quality camera, but I believe that it would accurately represent what most phone-users would capture at any other big public event, and that the experience of the event is often of greater value than the quality of what may be recorded.
Case Studies/Inspirations:
I had chosen to focus on basketball as the sport I would report and research on, as I have a general interest in sports and throughout my life, basketball has been a key aspect as my family have been involved in community basketball events and teams in the past. Furthermore, the NBA (2016) is also what inspired me as I have always been an NBA fan.
A section of the history page on the NBA website (2016) that particularly resonated with me to film the LUSL cup finals basketball game is “The NBA has a rich tradition of game-changing plays and storied rivalries, personal sagas and team dynasties. Players and fans alike share the excitement of reliving key moments in basketball history, and admiring the excellence of former players, coaches and teams who helped shape the game. The league is home to living legends, and we honor their achievements while also looking to the future”.
Reflections on my Live Report:
After filming my live report, the challenges I faced during filming were, not always having the clearest view of the game as the camera was often blocked by other spectators, the quality of the clips are not as consistent; and as mentioned I was using my phone to report on the event, and I was unsuccessful in gaining interviews for what I had originally planned due to scheduling issues.
Footage Stills:
Bibliography
NBA (2016). History - NBA Careers. [online] NBA Careers. Available at: https://careers.nba.com/history/. [Accessed 9 March 2025]
Oscar: Rugby Research Doc
The Royal Holloway Rugby team
participates in various inter-college competitions and is integral in
fostering community spirit, whether you’re a part of the team or going
to the games to support the players. This is why I’ve decided to base
my live report around it. I will be going to some games to get some
footage as well as interviewing players to get some insight into their
experiences.
Live Report:
The final cut of the live report will be my
live interviews of the players from the rugby teams’ training session
cut with footage that I took from their last game. I plan to ask
questions specifically related to the game, so I will cut to footage
from the game as they answer the questions. Additionally, I’ll also be
asking about Royal Holloway’s Rugby community as a whole and what it’s
like to be part of the team. Examples of my questions include:
- How do you handle pressure during a game?
- How do you stay motivated during a tough match?
- How do you develop your skills?
- How do you deal with difficult opponents?
- What is your favorite memory from your time on the Holloway team?
- How do you ensure you're a good teammate?
- What is your favorite aspect of playing rugby?
- How do you stay engaged with the sport during the off-season?
- What is your favorite rugby quote or mantra?
- Does it make a difference when there is a large crowd turnout for a game?
- What was your thought process when you made that run?
- How did you feel after scoring the try?
- What’s the most important thing to know when playing scrum half?
Preparation:
To prepare for my interviews, I have looked into various professional rugby post-game interviews, press conferences and reports in order to emulate the kind of questions asked in a professional setting. In particular, I have been watching a lot of interviews around the Six Nations games, which are currently going on. I specifically enjoyed the interviews with the Welsh team’s interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, and their Captain, Jack Morgan, after their loss to Scotland. Although defeated, their attitudes remained positive, and they could recognise where their weaknesses were and acknowledge the opposing team's strengths while still maintaining hope for future games.
Game Footage Stills:
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Galid's Research document (American Football)
The Royal Holloway American Football team plays in multiple different tournaments which plays
a significant role in building community spirit. I have chosen to center my live broadcast on it becuase of this. In addtion to interviewing players to gain some understanding of their experiences, I will be attending several traning sessions.
Live Report:
For my live report, i inted to attend one of the team's training sessions or home games to capture the essence of the team's spirit and dedication.
By recording signifcant game moments, I aim to bring the intensity and exactment of their performance to life.
This hands-on approach will allow me to provide updates and paint a picture of the squad and their highlights on the field.
I am going to be interviewing the players and examples of my questions include:
- How do you develop your skills?
- How do you deal with difficult opponents?
- What is your favorite memory from your time on the Holloway team?
- How do you ensure you're a good teammate?
- Why do you enjoy American Football?
- How do you stay engaged with the American Football during the off-season?
Plan/Inspirations
I've researched several professional American Football post-game interviews, press conferences, and reports to get ready for my interviews by trying to imitate the type of inquiries made in a formal context.