It's All Journalism

It's All Journalism


#23 - Ben Raby & Mark Zuckerman, sports journalism

February 01, 2013

Sports reporting is one of the first jobs in journalism where multiple mediums were expected out of a reporter's daily product. Even years ago, when the black and white scores arrived folded on a fan's doorstep, they could likely hear their favorite writer on the radio every now and again.


Mark Zuckerman was that reporter. His career started in print, and he became well-known by fans in Washington writing for The Washington Times. His career took an interesting turn in 2010 when the Times collapsed its sports department and Zuckerman found himself asking fans to support his work covering the Washington Nationals spring training.


After an unexpected outpouring of financial support from his readers, Zuckerman launched NatsInsider.com and became one of the few reporters to successfully pull-off a paywall. Now, Zuckerman reports for Comcast Sports Network where he still covers the same team, but in a very different way than he did when his career began.


Ben Raby, who covers the Washington Capitals, works in radio, television and reports online. When Raby's career began, he was exposed to a number of different mediums. But, he couldn't decide which he liked most.


It's All Journalism producers Megan Cloherty and Michael O'Connell talk to Zuckerman and Raby about how "new media" has redefined their jobs and altered sports journalism for good — and bad.