Red Smith

When you think about the epitome of sports journalism, you think about Red Smith. Born Walter Wellesley Smith, he began his journey in journalism at Notre Dame. At the conclusion of his college experience, Smith mailed off applications for journalism positions at 25 various newspapers. Unsuccessful Smith did not receive one job offer.

In the latter of the same year however, Smith acquired a job with the Milwaukee Sentinel. At this paper he did not earn much of a salary. Dissatisfied, he applied to the St. Louis Star wanting to be a copy editor. Though, due to a massive issue with bribes in the sports department at the Star, he consequently became a sportswriter. Smith believed that becoming a journalist where you are a "newspaper man first and then a sportswriter next," was the most appropriate way to become a good sports journalist.

With very little experience writing sports stories, Smith used his opportunities as a "rewrite man" to shape his unique style of writing. Smith's style was that of a spectator, he always wrote as if you were sitting right at the game alongside him. In 1936, he took his new style and went to write for the Philadelphia Record where he ran a sports column. People loved his column and there in Philadelphia is where he began to used the byline of "Red Smith." The choice to use "Red" as his name stemmed from the fact that he disliked his real name, and his hair was red.

Still not getting paid enough to support his family, Smith looked for another way to make money. Smith began writing a children's book entitled Terry and Bunky Play Football.

In 1945, Smith got a job offer from the New York Herald, and in no time was the head sports columnist. Smith was distinguished in that he was known to not write down any notes while conducting an interview. He preferred to keep the conversation fluid and then use his memory to create the imagery of the interview. This contributed to the subtle, yet sought after writing style that Smith delivered. After 20 great years at the Herald the newspaper shockingly closed in 1966.

Succeeding the Herald, Smith got a job at the New York Times as a sports journalist. He stayed at the Times for the remainder of his life. The biggest accomplishment that occurred before his death in 1982, had to be in 1976 when he received a Pulitzer Prize. Smith then became the third sports journalist to receive this award.

Red Smith had a very successful career in sports journalism and served as one of the founding fathers to sports journalism as we know it today.

Works Cited

Ritchie, Donald A. "Red Smith." American Journalists: Getting the Story. New York: Oxford UP, 1997. 226-30. Print.