“Bist du deppert!” – At the beginning of July, the Sports Journalism Workshop kicked off once again. This year’s edition focused (almost) entirely on the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Participants experienced an intensive week combining the social and political dimensions of sport with hands-on journalistic training – including an excursion into the MMA ring.
The workshop opened with a discussion led by Martin Reichenauer, Academic Expert & Lecturer in TV & Video at FHWien der WKW and a long-time sports reporter. Together, participants explored the social and political significance of major sporting events and the rapid transformation of sports journalism. The focus then shifted to practical work: live commentary, one of the discipline’s premier skills, took center stage in a module led by Mark-Michael Nanseck, former ATV Head of Sports. Using FHWien alumnus Daniel Warmuth’s World Cup commentary on the Austria–Algeria match as a case study, participants analyzed the key elements of professional live sports commentary.
From Print to Podcasts: Sports Journalism in Practice
The practical training continued with a print journalism session led by Mareike Boysen and an on-camera presentation workshop with long-time ORF sports presenter Daniela Soykan-Tober. After honing their journalistic skills in the classroom, participants put them to the test in a real-world setting – including an impromptu group training session. During a sports production with MMA professionals led by Darko Banović, they applied camera, interviewing, and presenting techniques under authentic conditions. Throughout the workshop, participants were supported by guest lecturers Silvana Strieder, an award-winning sports journalist, and Patrick Maurer, video producer at LAOLA1.
Together with KURIER journalist Stefan Berndl, the aspiring sports journalists also produced a podcast on the FIFA World Cup. The workshop concluded with a session by former Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) press spokesperson Susanne Polansky, who shared insights into the federation’s media relations and her work with the Austrian national team around Marko Arnautović and his teammates.
The FIFA World Cup as a Case Study for Modern Sports Journalism
“Hardly any other event currently illustrates the transformation of sports journalism as clearly as the FIFA Men’s World Cup,” says workshop leader Martin Reichenauer. “Whether it’s cross-platform storytelling on social media or in-depth background reporting, sports journalism today is no longer just about the match itself — it also requires broader social and political context.”
Whether through live commentary, podcast production, or on-location sports reporting, the workshop demonstrated that sports journalism today extends far beyond writing match reports. Participants’ feedback reflected this, with the workshop’s strong practical focus receiving particular praise. The intensive week not only strengthened participants’ journalistic skills but also highlighted how sports journalism continues to evolve.
Interested? Pre-registration for the next Sports Journalism Workshop in July 2027 is already open. Join the waiting list via the link below to secure your place. More information about the workshop is available at fh-wien.ac.at/sportjournalismus.