Question 1

According to Chapter 12, sidebars .&#10;A) Are stories written prior to a game&#10;B) Rarely appear in sports coverage&#10;C) Are stories that complement the main story&#10;D) Are dessert tables near the buffet bar

Accepted Answer

Sidebars are additional stories that complement the main story in sports coverage. They provide more context or background information on a topic related to the main story.

Question 2

Sidebar stories can feature many angles including:&#10;A) The star or goat of a game&#10;B) A head-to-head matchup&#10;C) A turning point incident that happened during a game&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above are suitable angles for a sidebar story. Focusing on the standout player (star or goat), a key matchup, or a game-changing moment can provide interesting insights and analysis for readers.

Question 3

Sidebar stories can:&#10;A) Include lots of statistics similar to a game story&#10;B) Not be associated to the event in any way&#10;C) Act as a play-by-play story&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Sidebar stories are typically related to the event being covered but are not a play-by-play account or heavy with statistics.

Question 4

Writers should always have a sidebar idea in mind before the game begins.

Accepted Answer

Having a sidebar idea in mind before the game begins can help writers stay focused and avoid writer's block during the writing process. It also allows them to have a clear direction for their writing and may result in a more cohesive and engaging story.

Question 5

Sports editors assign sidebars because .&#10;A) It's a large local event that warrants additional coverage&#10;B) Readers have great interest in an event&#10;C) The event is a rivalry or where something monumental could occur&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Sports editors may assign sidebars for all three reasons mentioned in the options: the event is important and warrants additional coverage (A); readers have great interest in the event, and covering additional angles provides them with more information and entertainment value (B); and the event is a rivalry between two teams or something monumental could occur that warrants in-depth coverage (C). Therefore, all of the above choices are valid reasons for assigning sidebars.

Question 6

Sometimes the sidebar has little to do with the main event.

Accepted Answer

The sidebar is usually used to display additional information or links that are related to the main event, but it can also include content that is not directly related.

Question 7

Oftentimes readers bypass the main story and only read the sidebar.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Oftentimes readers bypass the main story and...

Question 8

Sidebar stories should:&#10;A) Include unusual details&#10;B) Be longer than game stories and other types of stories&#10;C) Include a colorful perspective&#10;D) Both A and C

Accepted Answer

Sidebar stories are meant to provide additional context and interesting details that may not be included in regular game stories or news articles. Including unusual details and providing a colorful perspective can make the sidebar story more engaging for the reader. Therefore, both choices A and C are correct. The length of a sidebar story can vary depending on the topic, but it is not necessarily longer than other types of stories, so choice B is not correct.

Question 9

A sidebar writer should never talk with the beat writer before pursuing a story.

Accepted Answer

A sidebar writer should always talk with the beat writer before pursuing a story to ensure accuracy and avoid duplication of effort.

Question 10

When writing a sidebar story, the writer can assume .&#10;A) All readers will not read the game story&#10;B) The beat writer is not concerned about the sidebar writer's angle&#10;C) A sidebar story idea will simply emerge during the event&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

When writing a sidebar story, the writer should assume that all readers will not read the game story. The sidebar provides additional information and perspective on specific aspects of the event or game, so it is important to keep in mind that some readers may only read the sidebar and not the main story. This means that the sidebar should stand alone and not rely too heavily on information provided in the game story.

Deck 12: Other Types of Stories I: Sidebars