Engaging at Stanford:
Sports Writing for The Stanford Daily
From Legal Briefs to Campus Classes
Arriving at Stanford in the fall of 2021, Ken King brought with him over 30 years of experience in defending and advising business clients in product liability and other complex litigation. In addition to participating in Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute’s Class of 2021 activities, he dove headlong into a full load of classes, meeting and participating with scores of students along the way. Many of the relationships Ken built at Stanford sprung from classroom discussions on subjects ranging from Constitutional Law to Joseph Stalin to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Ken wanted to find ways to give back to the Stanford community by using his experience and writing skills honed during his years as a lawyer.. He drafted additions to a Stanford law professor’s course materials describing the intricacies of one of the notable cases on which he worked on during his career. He edited a PhD Genetics candidate’s manuscript on use of DNA evidence. And he combined his passion for writing with his enthusiasm for sports by writing for the campus student newspaper, The Stanford Daily.
Ken King (DCI 2021)
Tenacity Opens the Door
Two students in one of Ken’s English classes mentioned that they were sports writers for The Daily and another student whom Ken mentored as part of the Stanford Women in Business (SWIB) program was one of the Daily’s financial officers. They all encouraged him to communicate directly with the editors. With their guidance and encouragement, Ken found himself on Panama Mall one rainy evening, knocking on the Daily’s door. Within a few minutes one of the editors let him in the building and upstairs to a room where the other young editors were gathered around a table.
Ken told the group that he wanted to write sports articles and that he believed he could add value to The Daily. “What kind of writing experience do you have?” the editor-in-chief asked. Ken replied, “I’ve written legal briefs for the past 35 years.” The editor shot back, “What else?” Ken offered “Well, 40 years ago I was the editor of my high school newspaper. I imagine that, about three years ago, you were the editor of your high school newspaper.” The 37-year gap was immaterial. Ken was accepted as a staff writer and immediately added to The Daily’s Slack group.
Individual writers on The Daily staff propose articles, each of which requires interviewing at least three sources and addressing editor comments. Beyond writing several articles on tennis and golf, Ken devoted his energies to sports that traditionally have not received extensive coverage, including writing articles on the men’s club ice hockey team and the women’s squash team. Additionally, Ken conducted a “Senior Spotlight” interview with Annabelle Bachmann, a rower on Stanford’s NCAA championship team who, despite regular early-morning practices, achieved a 3.98 GPA, majoring in biology, while excelling on the water.
Ken and Charis Charitsis (PhD ‘23) first met at a Stanford sporting event. Later they created a new sports feature for The Stanford Daily.
Creating Unique Content
Ken partnered with Charis Charitsis (PhD ‘23) to produce a new feature, “This Week in Sports” providing event coverage of all Stanford teams from the previous week. Charis remarks, “Ken’s dedication to accuracy is second to none. As a lawyer, he has credibility and dedication to accuracy.”
Ken’s articles reflect his deep understanding of, and passion for, many sports. He is proud that The Stanford Daily’s commencement issue (June 16, 2023), which features The Daily’s memorable articles of the year, prominently displayed his article entitled “Tiger Rose,” focused on Stanford golfing star, Rose Zhang.
Having written 10 articles in his final quarter, Ken earned a permanent Stanford Daily email address, a Stanford Daily t-shirt and access to The Daily’s campus office, the same one he approached on that rainy evening.
A Valued Contributor
Having written 10 articles in his final quarter, Ken earned a permanent Stanford Daily email address, a Stanford Daily t-shirt and access to The Daily’s campus office, the same one he approached on that rainy evening.
Among the Stanford DCI Fellows, Ken King has made a significant impact on campus. Not only has he made special efforts to build relationships with, and learn from fellow students, but his work on The Stanford Daily helped to provide recognition for Stanford’s inspiring student athletes, including those who practice each day and play their sports without much fanfare.
Now back home in New York City, Ken enjoys continuing his relationships with Charis and the other Stanford students he befriended and supported during his DCI year at Stanford.
Learn more
Stanford Daily Articles by Kenneth King, Staff Writer
See Ken and Charis in DCI’s new video!
By Kristin Goldthorpe, Stanford DCI, Communications Manager