Absa Kip Keino Classic: Scribes Learn Why Behind The Scenes Stories Are Important In The Evolving World Of Athletics

_{World Athletics (WA) Press Liaison Delegate Cornelia Shmid trains journalists in Nairobi on Friday during AK/SJAK Media Seminar ahead Saturday’s Absa Kip Keino Classic. PHOTO/ SJAK}

NAIROBI, Kenya- In the evolving world of sports, storytelling has become a powerful tool for attracting and engaging fans and athletes alike. 

Behind the scenes stories of struggle, triumph, and the human experience of athletes are intriguing to both casual and hardcore fans alike. 

During the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Athletics Seminar held in Nairobi in the run up to Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, scribes received vital tips on the power of sports storytelling; as a fascinating trend how the public view and appreciate sports.

_{World Athletics (WA) Press Liaison Delegate Cornelia Shmid (left) and Absa Kip Keino Classic Race Director in Nairobi on Friday during AK/SJAK Media Seminar ahead Saturday’s Absa Kip Keino Classic. PHOTO/ SJAK}

Elias Makori, Head of Sports at Nation Media Group (NMG) in his presentation, called on reporters attending the workshop to invest a lot more in their time and strive to hang out with athletes in churning out human interest athlete stories.

Makori, who is a seasoned journalists with an experience spanning over three decades in the trade, also revealed that “the key to a successful interview is establishing rapport with athletes.”

To achieve this, Makori added, “Reporters must do their homework and approach interviews knowing both the background of the source and something about the subject of the story.”

He continued: “Always look for interesting facts, anecdotes, historical background of the athlete that will make the story more interesting.” Makori said in his presentation. 

_{Elias Makori, Head of Sports at Nation Media Group in Nairobi on Friday during AK/SJAK Media Seminar ahead Saturday’s Absa Kip Keino Classic. PHOTO/ SJAK}

Makori added that reporters need to pay particular attention to the structure of the interview.

He continued: “A reporter should also be adept at handling hostile sources and uncommunicative resources.” He said.

“When a reporter asks the right questions with finesse, a source becomes a window of the news. Interviewing requires patience, confidence, and an uncanny knack to listen, participate, observe and absorb,” said Makori. 

The seminar is being used by SJAK to impart technical knowledge to journalists well in time for the weekend showpiece, which continues to distinguish itself as a top-ranking one-day-meet athletics championship. 

‘Kip Keino Classic’ is part of the Continental Tour Gold series by World Athletics. The action-packed event boasts top talents from Africa and other continents giving athletes a chance to compete at an international level while reaching fans all over the world.