American Football Database
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A sideline reporter is a professional journalist who assists a sports broadcasting crew with sideline coverage of the playing field or court. The sideline reporter typically makes live updates on injuries and breaking news or conducts player interviews while players are on the field or court because the play-by-play broadcaster and color commentator must remain in their broadcast booth.

Origins of sideline reporting[]

Jim Lampley is considered[by whom?] to be the first sideline reporter. According to Lampley, the job grew out of the wreckage of the 1972 Munich Olympics, when new wireless technology was put to use in ABC's Quicksilver coverage of the Israeli hostage crisis and the subsequent massacre. As Lampley recalled, "Months later, they asked, 'What else could we do? Would it work in a football stadium? Could we put someone on the sidelines?'"[this quote needs a citation] The first broadcast with a sideline reporter was the UCLA Bruins vs. Tennessee Volunteers football game in 1974.[citation needed]

Stigma[]

Certain people[who?] believe that sideline reporters lack fundamental knowledge. After controversies with multiple sideline reporters such as Jenn Sterger or Ines Sainz, that stereotype has been furthered.[citation needed] Sideline reporters are hard working and knowledgeable parts of a broadcast team.[opinion] Lots of preparation and research is needed to be a sideline reporter.[vague] Lampley's replacement in 1977 was Anne Simon. Many sideline reporters[who?] have moved on to have great success in the broadcast booth, studio jobs, commercials, and acting roles.

Types[]

There are different types of sideline reporters depending on the sport:

  • Sideline reporter
  • Field reporter
  • Courtside reporter (basketball)
  • Clubhouse reporter or dugout reporter (baseball)
  • Rinkside reporter or inside-the-glass reporter (ice hockey)
  • On-court reporter (tennis)
  • Hole reporter (golf)
  • Boundary rider (Australian rules football)
  • Pit reporter (auto racing)
  • Trackside reporter or paddock reporter (horse racing)

Notable sideline reporters[]

  • Jay Glazer
  • Cammi Granato
  • Jim Gray
  • Lisa Guerrero
  • Allen Hopkins
  • Dan Jiggetts
  • Kimberly Jones
  • Andrea Joyce
  • Lewis Johnson
  • Jim Kaat
  • Adrian Karsten
  • Armen Keteyian
  • Suzy Kolber
  • Ted Kravitz
  • Andrea Kremer
  • Matt Lauer
  • Kara Lawson
  • Steve Lyons
  • Footnotes[]

    References[]


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