To be clear is the first duty of a writer; to charm and to please are graces to be acquired later.
—Brander Matthews

Then a story like that of Philadelphia Eagles Featured Columnist Ian Stancato comes along, perfectly illustrating the wide-ranging (and sometimes unexpected) benefits this experience could have for your career. Ian explains:

B/R helped me land a position outside the realm of sportswriting. I am currently working for a middle market investment bank which focuses on sell-side advisory and helping to facilitate mergers and acquisitions between businesses. I am responsible for breaking down complex financial reports and forecasts, translating them into layman’s terms for presentations, sales pitches and quarterly journals for our clients.

I know you’re thinking, “OK, what does that have to do with B/R?”

As a graduate of B/R’s Fall 2011 Internship program, I produced a lot of work over the course of a few months. While I’m sure that everyone who undertakes the Internship experience does so in hopes of turning it into a sportswriter position, I am proof that  the program can also be a conduit to positions outside the sports world. I did expect my internship experience to pay off in some way, but I never imagined that it would work to my advantage in the manner it did.

I never would have had an opportunity at this position if it weren’t for my writer archive on B/R, which was extensive mostly because of my internship experience. Through my archive, I was able to prove that I am a very capable writer and, given my educational background (I was an Economics major in college), I was able to sell myself as having a unique set of skills that could be valuable to the company.

The internship experience can be trying, but it can also be the most valuable experience you possibly gain as a writer in general, not just as a sportswriter. The opportunity B/R provides extends well beyond the world of sports.

It is important not to discount the fact that your work is published on a credible website, offering a ton of exposure. Competition for jobs is fierce in today’s market, but when you can prove that you are a good enough writer to be featured on the country’s fourth largest sports website, suddenly the work you produce here carries far more weight than any writing sample ever could.

Your writer archive could prove to be your most valuable asset when getting into a career that requires proficiency in writing.

Want to add another arrow in your professional quiver? Spots are still available for our Fall Semester! You can find all the juicy details here.

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Joel C. Cordes is Bleacher Report’s Sportswriting Internship Program Feedback Editor. Along with fellow editor Greg Pearl, he develops B/R interns by providing feedback and mentoring, the highlights of which are shared with the B/R Blog here.

I asked Ring Lardner the other day how he writes his short stories, and he said he wrote a few widely separated words or phrases on a piece of paper and then went back and filled in the spaces.
—Harold Ross

I think this quote can be helpful to writers, but not because we all ought to copy Lardner’s alleged method, whether we’re writing fiction or nonfiction.But when’s the last time you tried something new in your approach to the blank page or screen, something that might seem kind of nuts until you try it?

Bleacher Report prides itself as a forum where sports fans worldwide can come together and share fresh, original content, with the emphasis on “original.” With roughly 800 pieces of content published each day, it’s imperative that each piece contains original thoughts enhancing the reader experience.

Non-original content will be removed, and the punishment can be as severe as a loss of writing privileges on the site.

Bleacher Report’s Content Standards identify three categories of non-original content:

1. Plagiarism

The mantra has been repeated numerous times on B/R: A zero-tolerance policy exists for the offense, and as such, cases will result in a removal of writing privileges.

It is important to note that plagiarism is not always as simple as copying and pasting words and/or ideas from someone else and passing them off as your own.

As Plagiarism.org notes, the practice is a bit more inclusive:

• Turning in someone else’s work as your own
• Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
• Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on “fair use” rules).

The biggest misconception about plagiarism is that slightly re-wording something from another source—and not giving credit to that source—is OK. That is not the case. As Purdue OWL notes, paraphrasing still requires proper citations and rewriting.

With NBA Mock Draft season in full swing, here is a timely example of an informative paragraph written by Derek Bodner of Draft Express:

Offensively, Nicholson relies heavily on a very refined post game that’s tough to defend at this level, particularly when paired with the improving perimeter game he showed last year. With good footwork, counter moves, and an ability to finish with either hand, Nicholson has plenty of moves in the low post.

Let’s say you’ve been assigned a mock draft but need some help on some later prospects, like Andrew Nicholson, who may go in the first round but has only appeared on national television a few times. Therefore, you have to do some extra research on the side to supplement your memories watching him live alongside a few YouTube clips.

If you find a good passage to use, you can quote it as long as it’s sourced properly, as it is above. You also have the option to paraphrase the passage, though you must still cite and link to the source material, and the syntax must be completely rewritten in your own words.

Here are improper and proper ways to do this:

Improper

Nicholson depends a lot on a refined post game that is hard defend at this level, especially when combined with the better perimeter game he showed last year. He has good feet, counter moves and can finish with his left and right hands, so he has a solid skill set in the low post.

Is there any true difference between the two passages aside from a few word changes? Not really. Plus, Bodner’s work isn’t properly cited, so this is technically plagiarism when you consider that the two paragraphs’ structures are largely the same.

Proper

As Derek Bodner of DraftExpress notes, Nicholson’s offensive repertoire in the post makes him difficult for defenders to guard. Given his ability to score from outside—combined with an ability to score with both hands and some impressive footwork—the 6’9” power forward reigned as a potent threat during his days at D-I mid-major St. Bonaventure.

The same ideas are expressed here, but the wording and sentence structures have been completely altered. It’s also clear that these are Bodner’s ideas, as they are properly sourced.

Ultimately, you will probably feel the need to paraphrase someone’s original writing and thoughts, so if you decide to do so, you must follow the standards above.

2. Recycled Submissions

Writers are allowed to repost their own articles from personal sites as long as the articles comply with our Content Standards and are timely enough to provide a fresh user experience on B/R.

However, the following is forbidden:

• Self-plagiarizing one’s own B/R work (i.e. recycling old writing without sourcing).
• Excessive reuse of older excerpts (B/R or otherwise) in newer work, even if properly sourced.

3. Excessive Borrowing

Joining the rat race to report breaking news on B/R is not worth it if the content you produce contains, for example, 200 words of quoted information and just 100 words of your own writing.

Excerpting material from other sources is fine if done in moderation. The goal is to give your original take on a story while using (and crediting and linking) sources to provide background. Give your readers enough information to know what you’re writing about, while also giving them the option to click on the link for more information.

No B/R reader wants to read something he or she can get at the original source. As such, articles in that vein (breaking and non-breaking news alike) will be removed from the site until they can be revised.

Along these lines, re-posting a press release or news dispatch is strictly forbidden. All such submissions will be removed.

Writers are welcome to use information contained in press releases as a jumping-off point for their originally written articles, but all press release excerpts must be properly cited and quoted.

In general, make sure that at least 75 percent of your work is original writing to avoid such a violation.

Take-Home Note

Ultimately, the premise is simple: If you use someone else’s work, please make every effort to give the proper credit to avoid being cited for plagiarism.

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Paul Kasabian is Bleacher Report’s Content Moderation Coordinator. He can be reached at contentstandards@bleacherreport.com.

A writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view, a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway.
—Junot Diaz

The view from the Bleacher Bar

Fresh off a terrific Writers Meet-up in Philadelphia, the Bleacher Report Writer Program road show heads to Boston for the next meet-up on June 14 at Fenway Park.

You read that right. Our Boston event will be at the Bleacher Bar, which is in Fenway Park, where the visiting team’s batting cage used to be. There’s a window that looks out onto center field.

Can you think of a more appropriately named place for a Bleacher Report meet-up? There will be the usual terrific food and drink and Bleacher Report gear. We ask that you RSVP via email or in the comments below so we’ll know how much food to order.

The Red Sox won’t be in town that night, but you will be treated to Red Sox fan and Bleacher Report Deputy Editor Adam Hirshfield, who will be your host for the evening. Adam is in charge of coverage for MLB, college basketball, NHL, NASCAR, boxing, wrestling, golf and tennis. It’s safe to say he knows what’s up at B/R.

Hirshfield will be joined by World Football Editor and Lead Writer Will Tidey.

Bleacher Bar’s address is 82A Lansdowne Street. The meet-up is Thursday, June 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Not sure you want to come? Here are some emails from B/R writers who attended the meet-up in Philadelphia last week, quoted with their permission.

Roy Burton is a Philadelphia 76ers Featured Columnist who also writes about the NBA generally and co-hosts “The Broad Street Line” sports podcast on Blogtalk Radio:

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and the rest of the Bleacher Report crew for coming out to Philly last week.

As one of you mentioned, it was hard to fully appreciate the size and the scale of the B/R operation until I was able to meet some of those whose work I’ve enjoyed reading on the site. And while it was great to get a peek behind the B/R curtain (the editing process, etc.), the opportunity to interact with some of my fellow writers proved to be invaluable.

More than anything, it was great to hear others refer to Bleacher Report by using the words “we”, “us” and “our.” As writers, editors and staff members of the fourth-largest sports site in the U.S., it’s nice to know that many of us take the opportunity to be champions of the brand whenever possible.

After last week’s meet-up, I’m more excited than ever to be a member of the Bleacher Report family, and I look forward to playing a role in the continued success of the site.

Ron Pasceri is a Philadelphia Eagles Featured Columnist who has worked on B/R’s March Madness, Kentucky Derby and Preakness coverage teams this spring:

I wasn’t among the people who saw Bleacher Report as a faceless company and I’ve had contact with a few people from the San Fran offices but it definitely opened my eyes a little more to meet you guys.

It was a fun time, as advertised, but I found it quite substantive as well. Hearing your real-time feedback and answers was really helpful and enlightening. I was happy you took some time out to stop and talk to individuals.

Patrick Hansen is a high school senior who’s a Seattle Mariners Featured Columnist, and he came to the meet-up in Philadelphia, which only makes sense, since he lives near … Washington, D.C.:

I had a lot of fun at the Fox and Hound yesterday–you guys did a great job organizing it. It was cool finally meeting some other writers in person.

Boston next. Once again: RSVP here or in the comments.

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Photo: Pauline Cheng / Flickr Creative Commons

A writer is working when he’s staring out of the window.
—Burton Rascoe

And then it dawned on me that Monday was a holiday and not many people would be likely to see that post. I wish I could tell you that this dawned on me around Friday afternoon. It actually dawned on me as I walked to work this morning.

So today’s post tells the wonderful story “Please Go Read Yesterday’s Blog Post.” Here it is: B/R Internship success story: Ben Chodos.

There is no way this would have happened without the B/R Sportswriting Internship. The resources provided in the internship allow young writers to improve rapidly, as long as they are willing to work for it.

After graduating from college last June, I started part-time work for a local sports website, but I wanted more exposure for my writing. I stumbled across the internship while searching for opportunities, and thankfully, I was accepted into the Winter 2012 class.

I didn’t really know what to expect, as I had never been published on a website that covers national sports. I knew little about search engine optimization and headline creation, and I had no idea how good my writing was compared to other interns.

I decided all I could do was work hard, meet all my deadlines, take advantage of every opportunity and use the resources available to me.

Turns out, there are a lot of opportunities and resources available to interns, and at B/R, hard work pays off.

My articles drastically improved once I learned how to create a compelling headline and write a proper lead. I received constant feedback from professionals, which helped me identify mistakes that frequently appear in my writing. By the end of the internship, I was acclimated to B/R Content Standards, and I was churning out articles with far fewer errors.

In addition to completing weekly assignments, interns also complete one on-call shift a week. This gives writers the opportunity to be in a fast-paced environment where articles need to be done quickly and cleanly.

This part of the internship ended up being particularly useful for me. I got the chance to put my newly acquired skills to use in a trial for the Trends and Traffic (TNT) team.

The foundation I built during the internship proved extremely valuable during this trial. I was able to come up with compelling headlines and crank out articles with clean copy in a short amount of time. I never would have been able to do this without the guidance and advice from the internship faculty.

After the trial, I was hired to work full time for the site. It’s a humbling opportunity that still hasn’t really set in for me. Calling myself a sportswriter still feels strange, but thanks to the amazing people at the writing internship, that’s what I am.

This site is always looking for people who have something to say and are willing to hone their craft. Work hard and soak up everything you can from the dedicated and remarkably helpful staff, and a paid opportunity may come up sooner than you think.

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Check out Ben’s B/R profile and follow him on Twitter @bchodos.

Nothing you write, if you hope to be any good, will ever come out as you first hoped.
—Lillian Hellman