Manipal Institute of Technology (MIC) recently introduced Sports Journalism course in its curriculum at the graduate level. The course was inaugurated by cricketer Anil Kumble.

The Sports Journalism course is the first of its kind to be introduced in any academic curriculum. The course introduces the student to the areas of sports, rules of the game in different spheres and how to write the technical details in a simpler manner. Students should be well aware of the rules and regulations of all the major games like football, Kabbadi, Cricket, Volleyball, Tennis, and Rugby and be able to write without any fear, informed MIC Director Buroshiva Dasgupta.

They learn the trade while studying and this could prove to be an added advantage to their future. Mr Dasgupta said that this is a more focused and organised course with a systematic approach towards sports and gives exposure to preliminaries of sports writing and sports administration. 

The course consists of five units and the fifth unit equips the student with the techniques of writing investigative sports articles, effective endings, developing a feature from a sports event, art of interviewing and observation, ethics and professionalism in sports.

Sports writing is highly technical.

Only those  who have been engaged, planned and have applied their mind whole heartedly to varying techniques, strategies, rules and regulations, followed conventions and know the history of the game can do justice to the job entreated to them. Sports Journalism deals with immediacy and enjoys the stimulation of being close to the events and the knowledge that their efforts can help to shape the future of the game. And the Sports Journalism course at MIC may be the initiative to improve the quality of sports writing in India, Mr Das Gupta added.