This article originally appeared in the Rough Draft print issue, in stands August 2025. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
The University of Utah boasts a prestigious athletics program with a rich and colorful history.
With about 17 sports competing at the Division 1 level, the U holds itself to the highest standard when it comes to athletic success. State-of-the-art facilities, passionate fans and high-level coaches all contribute to the unwavering success that Utah’s athletics bring to the University.
As a result of this dedication, the U has won 31 championships in its storied past. Accompanying the team championships, student-athletes have accounted for 126 individual championships, 666 All-American awards and 72 Olympians.
So, what does this have to do with sports journalism? The U’s successes don’t just end with sports. A tremendous student media stream provides journalists, photographers and designers with countless opportunities to gain cherished experiences.
As the U’s sports teams continuously show up to games, so does The Daily Utah Chronicle sports desk. With countless games, athletes and storylines to cover, the desk is granted access to behind-the-scenes practices and interviews that most universities don’t allow.
These professional opportunities give writers an edge over the competition when it comes to preparing for the future of sports writing. Being a Chrony sports writer doesn’t only grant access to school-sanctioned events, however.
Members of the desk have received press passes to Real Salt Lake games, Supercross events, international soccer matches, Salt Lake Bees seasons, Utah Jazz interviews and so much more. These events put student writers face-to-face with some of the most influential media personnel and athletes in the business.
While these external sporting events provide students with fantastic hands-on experiences in the professional sports scene, the U offers no reason to look further than campus itself. With the success that Utah’s student athletes have had over the years, national media can consistently be found in the Utes’ own backyard.
Why people love sports content
Sports writing has a perfect combination of reporting and entertainment. Utah’s athletics are a way for students and alumni to connect and collectively cheer on one goal. Sports writers are tasked with the role of educating the audience on any breaking news or games they may have missed out on. The absence of politics and negativity can create a stress-free environment for consumers and journalists alike.
Eric Lynch of the John Hopkins News-Letter said, “Now let’s be honest here: A decent portion of the value of sports news comes from its role as entertainment. Sports are fun! They can be fun to watch, fun to talk about and, more relevantly, fun to read about. And that’s not a bad thing; people need fun in their lives. Whether it’s sports, music, celebrities, video games or anything else, there has always been news coverage that serves primarily to discuss entertainment.”
Sports aren’t only fun to write about, they’re a blast to attend. Through networking with various team staff members, Chrony writers have had opportunities to attend home games for whatever on-campus events they desire. Desk members have become regulars at these events, creating successful pathways to their future endeavors.
Unmatched experiences
The opportunities don’t end here. This semester alone, the desk’s editor and assistant editor will bring a photographer along and travel to the Rose Bowl for Utah football’s season-opening game vs. UCLA. On top of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, the desk will have the option of attending football postseason, gymnastics postseason, men’s basketball postseason and women’s basketball postseason. Each of these events would provide exclusive access to interviews, press boxes and closed-off seating arrangements.
While there may be more pressing issues in the world than sports, everyone needs to take a step back and appreciate what they love. For millions of people, that love is sports. Through impactful sports journalism, The Daily Utah Chronicle sports desk hopes to be a bright spot in every sports fan’s day by providing new angles and a positive attitude towards what makes them happy.
What’s next?
In their Future of Sports event series, the Aspen Institute said, “Sports both reflect and shape our society. Journalism unpacks those relationships, along the way making the games that we play more interesting and relevant. The New York Times, HBO Real Sports and Los Angeles Times helped set the standard. Now, each outlet is changing how it covers sports.”
The Daily Utah Chronicle hopes to implement a strong “breaking news” presence within the sports industry. By diving deeper with research and interviews, writers can be the first to announce impactful stories that fans want to hear.
The sports desk is and always will be open to new faces joining the staff. Through unparalleled opportunities and experiences, the Chrony is the place to be as a college journalist hoping to make their way into the professional writing world, and you, yes YOU, could be next.
Apply at https://ustudentmedia.com/job/chroniclewriting/
