Dan Connolly: Joining a talented group that emphasizes doing it right and writing it well

May 16, 2024

I completed a bucket-list item last fall when I taught a college sports journalism course.

I learned plenty about myself, my teaching abilities and today’s college students.

It didn’t go as smoothly as I would have liked. As a college professor, I think I’m a solid journalist. But my shaky foray into the world of academia reinforced some of my ideals about my primary profession.

Perhaps the most gratifying part of that semester was introducing finely crafted sportswriting to a new audience – a group of junior and senior communication majors that was previously unfamiliar with the works of Gary Smith, Frank Deford and others.

One of my students observed that a Smith piece unfolded like an ESPN 30-for-30 documentary. That made me chuckle. When ESPN began its 30-for-30 series, I observed that the documentaries seemed like video extensions of long-form, Sports Illustrated-type stories.

Times sure have changed.

Still, well-crafted stories are timeless, and they can occur in various forms as long as they grab hold of the audience from start to finish.

Those pieces, though, take time and care to construct. And, in today’s media world, getting it done fast or first is often more important than getting it done well or, often, getting it done right.

That’s why I decided to join The Athletic as its Orioles beat writer.

I was perfectly content covering the club for BaltimoreBaseball.com, a site I co-created with internet advertising specialist Steve Cockey in March 2016. In two-plus years, we built a loyal following and a successful enterprise.

I didn’t see myself going anywhere. I was my own boss. I called the coverage shots. No wheel-spinning while chasing insignificant bits of news or rumors. It was nirvana for an old newspaper scribe. And then this opportunity at The Athletic came along. Nirvana-plus.

I entered this business more than 25 years ago with one goal: To tell stories. This is my 18th season covering the Orioles – including more than a decade at The Baltimore Sun – and, for me, that passion hasn’t shifted. What has is this business.

The Athletic, however, has put an emphasis on doing it right and writing it well. You can tell by the fresh stories it produces and the writers it has attracted – some of the best in the business, including my former Sun colleague Jeff Zrebiec, who is teaming with me to form the Baltimore bureau. His Ravens’ coverage set the market standard at The Sun and will continue to do so with The Athletic Baltimore.

At BaltimoreBaseball.com, I tried to have a similar focus on writing. But I also had other responsibilities that come with running a website: Editing, scheduling, story assigning.

I loved that challenge; it was a fantastic experience.

But, ultimately, I’m a writer. A sportswriter. That’s what I enjoy the most: Trying new story techniques and honing old ones – yes, Connolly’s Tap Room, my fake bar/interactive O’s forum, will continue with The Athletic.

The kids I taught in college last year showed me there remains an appetite for quality writing — if you can make it accessible.

That’s what The Athletic is doing.

That’s why I’m thrilled to be one of its newest members.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, join now for 30% off and a free T-shirt with this link: theathletic.com/baltimorelaunch

(Top photo: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k2xpb2pnZH9xfZdoZ3BnYWx8pa3NZpqopp6kua3FjKOmoqaZo7RurYytmKWdnqmypXnGq6auqF2ptaLAjJ6kqaCRqLa7sdJmm6ihnpx6qsCMq6CgoKRirq%2BwjLCpoqyZo7RutdNmrp6knGQ%3D