When my former editor at the Montgomery Gazette, where I worked as a sports writer for more than 11 years, called me in June 2015 to inform me our community newspaper was folding, my first concern was for the thousands of Montgomery County student-athletes whose stories would go untold.
These sentiments were echoed by the numerous calls, emails and text messages I received in the following days from coaches, parents and athletes asking who was going to provide coverage of local sports.
An excellent question, and one I was asked on an almost daily basis for months. At the time, however, I didn’t have a good answer. But I do now.
Beginning next week, I will be providing coverage of local sports, focusing on the teams and student-athletes who play at both public and private high schools in posts that will run on Mondays and Thursdays.
On Monday, I’ll post my first preview of the spring sports season. After previewing sports ranging from golf to baseball, I’ll be posting Monday notebooks—a collection of the previous week’s most interesting storylines and game updates—and feature stories focusing on player profiles and trends on Thursdays. I also plan on producing All-County and Top 10 lists.
I’m hopeful community members will lend a hand in keeping me tuned in to results and newsworthy stories. Please don’t hesitate to email me at Jennifer.s.beekman@gmail.com with inquiries and/or story pitches.
I also plan to have an active social media presence. Tweet me anytime at jen_beekman.
Over the years, I have watched thousands of student-athletes grow up and find themselves through sport and I’ve gotten to see many graduate from college and come back to guide the next generation as coaches.
These past few weeks, as I’ve prepared for this exciting new chapter, it’s felt like a rekindling of old friendships as I’ve contacted coaches and athletic directors at local schools. And I can’t wait to plug the community back into what’s going on in Montgomery County sports by providing our student-athletes with the attention and accolades they deserve.
Here are some guidelines to consider when pitching stories:
1. Know the coverage area
I intend to cover public and private schools within but not necessarily limited to Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring—though this does not mean I will ignore a great story from an extended area. All stories will, however, be Montgomery County-related.
2. Be mindful of deadlines
Monday’s notebooks will be a collection of news items, wrapping up the previous week’s events and will be written over the weekend. These provide an excellent opportunity for community participation; any information to be included in weekly roundups must make it to me by Sunday afternoon.
Thursday’s feature articles are due Wednesday night and require a bit more planning, so keep that in mind when submitting ideas.
3. Sell your story
I won’t ignore top performers, but I do like to highlight the underdog and tell stories that may not get much attention. Tell me what truly differentiates you, your team or your child. Maybe your win-loss record isn’t scaring anyone, but you’ve just claimed your first victory in three years. Perhaps you’re a third-string running back for your high school’s football team, but you’ve overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Look out for spring season previews beginning Monday. I look forward to community collaboration in this exciting venture.
