Chasing The Story: How I Found My Path In Sports Journalism

By Daniel Taylor

Photo from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas where I covered the Baylor vs. Arkansas men's basketball game in the 4PT Dallas Duel in November 2024.

I remember growing up watching sports games and after watching being able to talk about key plays, moments, players, etc. for long after the final buzzer sounded. Oftentimes friends and family told me that I should pursue a career in sports journalism to continue my passion for storytelling and sports.

Going into college, I sort of had a sense that sports journalism was something that I wanted to do but I never felt fully invested. It wasn’t until I covered the Crawford Pirates in a 2A high school football game that I finally realized “this is what I want to do.” Seeing my name with my story in the Waco Tribune-Herald for the first time was a moment I won’t forget. Although it was just a game recap, to me it was the moment where I felt like storytelling and sports journalism weren’t just interests; they were my passion and my future.

My name is Daniel Taylor, and I am a recent graduate of Baylor University where I received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. During my final semester at Baylor, I covered high school football for the Waco-Tribune Herald as a freelance writer while also covering some playoff volleyball games for other outlets such as the Dallas Morning News, among others.

Some of the classes that contributed to my passion for storytelling include my sports writing class, where I really began to learn what goes into sports journalism and how to really cover stories that connect with audiences just outside of game recaps, as well as my sports broadcasting class where I learned all aspects of sports media, including business, production, among other aspects.

Beyond just sports, my interests in journalism comes from a passion for storytelling that connects audiences together. With the changing landscape of journalism shifting from a one-way relay of information into more of a two-way communication and feedback, I enjoy the way journalists can connect with readers and audiences and build relationships to tell stories that highlight reader experiences.

Another thing that I’ve come to appreciate about journalism and sports journalism is its impact on the local level. Covering high school sports taught me that the stories aren’t just about games—they’re about communities and how sports bring people together. Whether it’s a small team having an exciting season, or an athlete overcoming challenges, these are stories that matter on a local level. My goal as a sports journalist is to highlight the moments that connect people to their communities and to one another.

My goal with this blog is to practice my sports writing as well as share my input and opinions on pressing sports topics. I aim to share stories that bigger media outlets won’t cover, such as highlighting plays, players and coaches from local teams in the area, while also analyzing professional teams and sharing my thoughts on performance and topics.

Journalism is about telling stories that matter, and I’d love to hear yours. Whether it’s a great sports moment, a behind-the-scenes perspective, or an idea worth sharing, feel free to reach out! If you’d like to see more of my work, feel free to check out the section titled “My work!”