Nicholas J. Fanelli
Marketing Professional, Journalist, and Photographer
Writing Samples
This first writing example was an assignment for my Sports Reporting class at the University of Iowa. This assignment was in regards to the controversial use of the Washington Redskins team name.
For as long as there have been sports teams, there have been team names. From the simple Dragons, Knights and Lions of peewee sports to outrageous names such as the Webster University Gorloks. The most notable of names though don’t arise because of their simplicity or sheer absurdity. No. These teams are drawing attention for a whole other reason: racism. (Feel free to continue reading by clicking the links in the image.)
Photo courtesy of the Washington Redskins.
The second writing sample was also an assignment for my Sports Reporting class. This assignment was a profile about Nick Baronti, a 6'10'' former All-State Volleyball captain from Illinois and current University of Iowa Women's Volleyball team 'practice player'.
Joben, Tree, The Jolly Green Giant. Those are just some of the many names senior accounting major Nick Baronti has had over the years. But for most students around the University of Iowa campus, Baronti is simply known by one thing -- being that REALLY tall guy.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo courtesy of the Daily Herald (IL).
The third writing sample is another Sports Reporting assignment. This assignment is a traditional 'beat' report for the University of Iowa Women's Volleyball team following the Hawkeye's loss to rival Iowa State.
In between the bustle of warm-ups, with volleyballs going in every which way, Carver-Hawkeye arena slowly begins to fill. Like the red sea, the 15,400-seat arena is parted down the middle, with black and gold on one side and cardinal and gold on the other. In what would be the third largest crowd in UI volleyball history, the Hawkeyes unveiled their new court to the 2,742 people at hand.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo by Nicholas Fanelli
This story was an assignment for my Narrative Journalism class at the University of Iowa. Being on the 'longer' side, this assignment focuses on student Felipe Carrasco, a former college soccer player, and his struggles in a life without the 'beautiful game'. That is until he found his true calling -- acting.
It’s around 10 in the morning on a Wednesday and the sun slowly begins to make its way along your poorly carpeted college ‘palace’. It’s a school day for you and the alarm on your phone, sitting at the side of your bed, is going off…again. It must be at least the third or fourth time you’ve done it, but you hit the snooze button and roll over to try and get some more shut-eye as you say to yourself ‘who needs class?’
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo courtesy of the UI Department of Theatre Arts
This example is the written portion of my photography assignment documenting the training of Michael Hepner before his first amateur boxing match in Iowa City, IA. You can find a brief photo slide show located on the 'Photo/Graphic Design Page' of this site.
A light drizzle was falling during what was a lazy and rainy Wednesday. It was about 5:16 at night as 21-year-old senior Mike Hepner stepped out of his house on S. Johnson Street and into his roommate’s car, by himself. Now of course he would have taken his own but of course, for what must be the 1000th time, his roommate blocked his car in on the drive and he was running late.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo by Nicholas Fanelli
This article was in regards to another one of my Narrative Journalism class assignments. For it, I decided to do a profile on a student at the University of Iowa who participated in various "Spartan Races" or obstacles races, with his father.
It’s the middle of the school week and the sun is slowly beginning to creep through the cracks in your bedroom windows. The sounds of birds chirping and cars speeding down Gilbert street echoes in your ears as your alarm begins to go off; it’s time to get up. After you slowly but surely pull yourself out of bed you begin to make your typical breakfast and then you’re off to take on the day.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo courtesy of Spartan Race, Inc.
Another article from my Narrative Journalism class, this story focuses around the story of Carrie Mason. Carrie was a Biomedical Engineering student who wants to make an impact in the world. And to get her started she decided to "Run For The Kids" with UI Dance Marathon.
Let us take a minute and imagine a scenario, shall we?
It’s just about 7:30 am on a crisp, clear October morning and you’re at the starting line of The Bank of America Chicago Marathon, one of the biggest marathons in the United States.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo courtesy of The University of Iowa Dance Marathon
This final example is an academic paper I wrote for my class, Race & Ethnicity in Sport. For this assignment, we were to write on how minorities are percieved differently in the press/public eye. My paper focused on Asian American athletes, more specifically LPGA golfer Michelle Wie.
Within every major sport across the United States, we as a general public, have pre-conceived notions about the way certain athletes compete based on their race. From African American athletes being seen as physically superior all the way to Caucasian athletes being perceived as ‘fundamentally sound’. The same can be said for Asian American athletes. From Jeremy Lin to Michelle Wie, Asian American athletes have found themselves the ‘models’ at the forefront of the racial misconceptions within sports.
(Feel free to continue reading by clicking the link in the image.)
Photo courtesy of USA TODAY Sports Images