The history of newspaper sports journalism in the United States goes back to the early days of the nation and is intertwined with both the history of newspaper journalism and the development of sports as an American cultural institution. As newspaper journalism evolved from a highly partisan hobby to a commercialized profession and sports grew from a regional pastime to a national industry, sports journalism has developed into a profession with its own norms, values and routines.
Sports journalism in the United States began to develop in earnest in the 1820s and 1830s, when specialized sports magazines covered mainly horse racing and boxing. At the time, newspaper coverage of sports was sporadic and tended to focus on events with a broader social context, not just the games themselves, such as a race between horses from the North and South or a boxing match between American and British fighters. But by the end of the 19th century, newspapers would become the main media covering sports in America.
The 19th century saw two important events in the evolution of American newspaper journalism. The first was the emergence of the Penny Press in the 1830s and 1840s, when newspapers expanded their circulation by lowering the price of the issue in an effort to appeal to a new demographic of middle-class, urban readers. It was also when newspapers began to rely on advertising rather than circulation to pay for their expenses. The second was the industrial revolution in the mid-to-late 19th century, during which urbanization largely grew out of waves of European immigration. It was the era of yellow journalism and sensationalism.
Both influenced the development of sports journalism as a profession. The growth of Penny Press led to publishers looking for content that would be popular with the masses. Sports is a perfect fit for this. The New York Herald, published by James Gordon Bennett, was one of the first newspapers to feature sports coverage – although Bennett apparently expressed regret for doing so. The profession continued to evolve throughout the 19th century. Henry Chadwick, who wrote for The Clipper in New York in the 1850s and 1860s, is considered the first full-fledged American sportswriter.
The Industrial Revolution, with its increased urbanization and technological innovations that reduced the cost of news gathering and printing, created the conditions under which newspaper circulation soared. “Sports, which has proven its ability to attract readers, became a logical area of focus in this era of yellow journalism.” During this era, newspaper coverage of sports expanded significantly. The New York World, owned by Joseph Pulitzer, became the first American newspaper to have its own sports department in 1883. In 1895, the New York Journal, owned by William Randolph Hearst, introduced the first separate sports section, in which sports coverage had its own part of the paper.
