In the world of sports reporting, the real excitement often lies not in the final score, but in the meticulous, detail-oriented work that happens behind the scenes. For Ella Brockway, who has just joined the Guardian as an assistant sports editor in the United States, this pursuit of hidden narratives is what makes journalism so thrilling.
A Lifelong Passion for the Search
Brockway traces her fascination with uncovering stories back to childhood, when she was captivated by treasure hunts in films like National Treasure and book series such as The 39 Clues. Today, that same investigative spirit drives her professional approach. The core of journalism, she believes, is the constant search for stories that lurk in unexpected places, narratives buried behind more obvious headlines, and perspectives that only emerge when viewed through a fresh lens.
Finding Gems in the Details
The projects that have most engaged Brockway are those born from small, often overlooked details. She finds particular joy in discovering the gems hidden within box scores, game notes, and locker room conversations. These might include players balancing demanding side jobs, books that have captured a team's imagination, or uniform details that spark fan obsession. Sports provides a target-rich environment for such discoveries, with soccer standing out as particularly fertile ground.
Soccer: A World of Endless Stories
According to Brockway, soccer offers an unparalleled wealth of narrative possibilities. The sport's rich history, diverse crowds, unique cultures, passionate songs, individual personalities, and global reach create an ever-changing tapestry of stories. She confesses that she fell in love with what happens off the field long before fully understanding the on-pitch action, though she now appreciates both aspects deeply.
The subtle intricacies of soccer match perfectly with the painstaking work of journalism. Spending hours sifting through interview transcripts to extract the perfect quote requires similar focus to analysing tactical formations. The relentless fixture list demands consistent attention, much like crafting multiple story outlines. Brockway even draws a parallel between scoring a goal and finding the ideal paragraph sequence that makes an article click into place. This alignment likely explains her attraction to editing roles.
The Never-Ending Quest
For Brockway, the search for stories remains endlessly exciting. It's a continuous hunt for what's new, what's coming next, and what lies beneath the surface. This detail-oriented approach ensures that sports coverage goes beyond mere results, delving into the human elements that make athletics so compelling.
Brockway's appointment is part of the Guardian's ongoing expansion of soccer coverage in the United States, particularly ahead of the 2026 World Cup. She joins alongside two other new hires: soccer correspondents Pablo Iglesias Maurer and Jeff Rueter. Based in Washington DC, she brings her treasure-hunting mentality to a publication committed to deepening its sports journalism footprint.
