How does Armstrong cover the Blue Jays?
Developing trust with players and fans while meeting tight press deadlines key to sports
This story is part of the Toronto Star’s trust initiative, where, every week, we take readers behind the scenes of our journalism. This week, we focus on how sports reporter Laura Armstrong approaches her coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Laura Armstrong’s working day begins long before game time. Armstrong, 26, became the Star’s Blue Jays beat reporter in February while continuing to cover Toronto FC and the occasional Raptors practice. The baseball beat involves interviewing players and managers, writing breaking news stories, updating sports fans on social media, participating in live radio interviews and crafting game stories after the last pitch. It’s intense. Not only does it require quick thinking and a lot of travel, but also developing a trusted relationship with sources and audiences. As the Blue Jays fight to stay in the wild card race, we asked Armstrong how she does it.
What does an average shift look like when covering a night game?
I’ll head to the ballpark by 3 p.m. for a 7:07 p.m. first pitch. I use this pregame time to interview players before a scheduled 4 p.m. daily session with Jays’ manager John Gibbons, in which he answers questions from journalists. Before the game starts, I’ll usually write a player profile or a feature unrelated to that night’s game, as well another story covering things such as the acquisition of new players, injuries or minor league stars. Once the game is underway, I divide my time between live tweeting and writing the game piece.
Once a game has ended how do you handle the tight press deadline?
I usually have 40 minutes to an hour to file my final story once the game ends. I’ll file a quick story as soon as the game is over that explains what happened, but without quotes. Then, I rush down to the clubhouse to interview players and attend a press conference with Gibbons, and refile my story with material from these interviews. This last story has to be finished by11p.m. If a game runs long or goes into extra innings, I keep in close touch with my editors so I won’t miss the deadline. Being organized is key. I carry my laptop, headphones and cellphone everywhere I go when I’m on deadline. I’ve filed stories sitting on the floor at more stadiums than I can count.
As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated beat covering men’s sports, are you treated differently by players or managers?
The role of women in sports media has come a long way since women started in this business. Alison Gordon, Major League Baseball’s first female beat writer who covered the Blue Jays for the Star, had trouble getting in the door.
Today, I don’t find I’m treated all that differently than male reporters by players or managers. In the instances where I am, I find it it’s generally out of respect. For example, the clubhouse at Fenway Park in Boston is very small. The players, coaches and media end up on top of one another and, as players prepare for games, they can be in various states of undress. When I reported from Boston, players were happy to move to the dugout for interviews, which I think was more comfortable for everyone.
I do occasionally cover women’s sports, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, but most of my time is spent covering male athletes.
I believe casual sexism still exists in our industry. For example, I have heard comments suggesting that because I am a woman, players or coaches might be more willing to speak with me, more likely to know my name or to develop a rapport with me. I’m proud to be a woman on the beat. That said, my goal is to be treated like — and held to the same standards as — any other reporter who enters those dressings rooms, regardless of gender.
In this high-paced news environment, how do you foster reader trust?
Earning trust from your readers comes over time. In sports, there is room for analysis, but there is also a fine line between analysis and opinion. My job isn’t to give opinion — we have columnists for that. I’m aware of that and try to stick to the facts. I also think little things go a long way. If I make a mistake on Twitter, for example, I correct it.
Do you ever receive any blowback from players or managers about stories you write and, if so, how do you handle this?
The first thing I was told by my former sports editor and mentor Jennifer Quinn, a respected sports writer herself, when I took on this job was to always show up. If you write something inflammatory, you show up at the ballpark the next day in case there is such blowback. That way, if a player or manager has something to say, you’re there to listen and respond. It’s up to us to be accountable to the people we write about.
How do you develop trust with the players?
On top of the most basic tenet of reporting — getting things right — I think, similar to dealing with blowback, it’s a matter of showing up and working hard. Baseball is a grind and if players see you working as hard as they do, I believe it builds a level of respect that can lead to trust.
Finally, do you eat the traditional baseball fare of popcorn and hotdogs while at the games?
There is popcorn in the press box, yes! Our Blue Jays columnist Richard Griffin has introduced me to hot sauce on popcorn, which I love. Griff swears he came up with the combo, though I’ve heard more than one other person lay claim to that invention.