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8 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Rethinking Sports Journalism

by José Luis Rojas-Torrijos and Daniel Nölleke

Journal. Media 2023, 4(3), 853-860; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4030053 - 1 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 9477

Abstract

In current digital media landscapes, sports journalism has lost its status as the undisputed playmaker in delivering sports-related information to audiences [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

22 pages, 1307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fans, Fellows or Followers: A Study on How Sport Federations Shape Social Media Affordances

by Lovisa Broms

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 688-709; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020044 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3055

Abstract

Increased in-depth knowledge on how sport federations shape their social media affordances to build relationships with their audiences will develop the understanding and ongoing discussion on the effects of social media in organized sports. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate [...] Read more.

Increased in-depth knowledge on how sport federations shape their social media affordances to build relationships with their audiences will develop the understanding and ongoing discussion on the effects of social media in organized sports. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate in what way sports federations shape their social media affordances to create an increased understanding of how they interact with their audiences through social media. Three sports federations, the Swedish Basketball Federation, the Swedish Skateboard Association, and the Swedish Equestrian Federation, were investigated through semi-structured interviews as well as digital ethnography. The analytical focus lies on in what way the organizations shape social media affordances as well as in what way they imagine social media uses and users. This study shows that the federations’ imagination of who their users are, what they would like to see and how these users act and react defines their affordances. Further, the results reveal that the federations have differing approaches to in what way they imagine their users (as fans, fellows or followers) as well as what their incentives are for using social media. To learn how ongoing mediations mold long-term changes for sport federations, it is of importance to look beyond mediatization and learn more about their current structure and operations, their history, and traditions, as well as their view of their users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

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14 pages, 876 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Sports Organizations and Their Defensive Mediatization Strategies: The Sports Journalist’s Perspective

by Neil O’Boyle and Aaron Gallagher

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 665-678; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020042 - 27 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4100

Abstract

This article provides empirical evidence of ‘defensive mediatization strategies’ in the field of sport. These are strategies used by actors individually and collectively to control and sometimes avoid media publicity—for example, by refusing requests for media interviews, or in the case of an [...] Read more.

This article provides empirical evidence of ‘defensive mediatization strategies’ in the field of sport. These are strategies used by actors individually and collectively to control and sometimes avoid media publicity—for example, by refusing requests for media interviews, or in the case of an organization, by making media literacy training available to its staff. In this article, we use the concept of defensive mediatization strategies to identify and illuminate some of the challenges facing professional sports journalists in the postbroadcast era. The article draws on findings from an ongoing study of the relationships between professional sports organizations, athletes, and journalists, but reports only on interviews conducted with experienced sports journalists in Ireland and Britain (n = 16). Our analysis identifies a number of defensive mediatization strategies used by sports organizations, including increased levels of in-house media, differential treatment of journalists, and an increasingly competitive stance towards journalism generally. We also consider a potentially more pernicious strategy: the hiring of professional sports journalists as internal communications advisers—a switching of role positions that might be termed ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’. The article organizes findings according to the three categories of defensive mediatization strategies identified in the extant literature (persistence, shielding, and immunization) and proposes a fourth category, which we label steering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

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17 pages, 314 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Tension between Journalistic and Entertainment Values in Live Soccer TV Commentary: The Commentator’s Perspective

by Jessica Kunert and Peer Kuni

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 631-647; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020040 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

This article examines the tension between journalistic and entertainment values in live soccer TV commentary from the perspective of German commentators. We situate journalistic and entertainment values within the commentators’ wider understanding of their roles as sports journalists and commentators, looking at a [...] Read more.

This article examines the tension between journalistic and entertainment values in live soccer TV commentary from the perspective of German commentators. We situate journalistic and entertainment values within the commentators’ wider understanding of their roles as sports journalists and commentators, looking at a specific type of sports journalist who has different responsibilities from the general sports reporter. We asked how soccer commentators assess the role of journalistic and entertainment values in their work, and what constraints they face, such as how the perceived expectations of their employer affect this assessment. We interviewed 28 TV commentators, one radio commentator, and one expert working for relevant German TV channels and streaming platforms, such as ZDF, Sky, and DAZN. While all interviewees see themselves as companions telling the story of the match, most commentators in the sample value journalistic values over entertainment values, a surprising finding in the hyper-commercialized world of sports television. Well-founded journalistic expertise and soccer knowledge are considered most important. However, this assessment depends on factors such as the broadcaster’s guidelines and the nature of the match. In summary, the role of the commentator is either an ‘objective mediator’ or an ‘emotional entertainer’, but this is a balancing act. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

13 pages, 1344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Media Publishing Strategies of German Newspapers: Content Analysis of Sports Reporting on Social Networks by German Newspapers—Results of the 2021 Social Media International Sports Press Survey

by Christof Seeger, Thomas Horky, Jörg-Uwe Nieland and Peter English

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 599-611; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020038 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3064

Abstract

Newspaper sports departments in Germany are reacting to changes in social media by expanding their offerings and employing a variety of publishing and engagement strategies. In this constantly evolving media environment, it is important to understand how newsrooms utilize social media to inform [...] Read more.

Newspaper sports departments in Germany are reacting to changes in social media by expanding their offerings and employing a variety of publishing and engagement strategies. In this constantly evolving media environment, it is important to understand how newsrooms utilize social media to inform their audiences. This study examines the approaches German newspapers apply to publishing sports content on social media, and outlines how users interact with these posts. In analyzing these aspects, this paper applies theoretical elements of agenda setting and audience engagement, gender in media, and quality and diversity of published content. Social media posts were examined across eight German publications, totaling 3633 posts from Twitter and Facebook. Results in the study, which is part of the global 2021 Social Media International Sports Press Survey, highlighted how most of the content published by German newspapers on social media aimed to redirect users to the publications’ websites. The findings also reflect how social media is used less as an editorial space and more as part of a campaign to increase the audience. These results demonstrate challenges for the quality of sports coverage distributed via social networks in Germany. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

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15 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

There He Goes: The Influencer–Sports Journalism of Fabrizio Romano on Twitter and Its Implications for Professionalism

by Simon McEnnis

Journal. Media 2023, 4(2), 430-444; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4020028 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 11374

Abstract

Fabrizio Romano’s sizeable social media followings and role as influencer–sports journalist warrant attention. Romano, known for his catchphrase ‘Here We Go’, specialises in football transfers and produces multi-platform content. This study investigates how Romano’s Twitter practice informs professional understandings of sports journalism. A [...] Read more.

Fabrizio Romano’s sizeable social media followings and role as influencer–sports journalist warrant attention. Romano, known for his catchphrase ‘Here We Go’, specialises in football transfers and produces multi-platform content. This study investigates how Romano’s Twitter practice informs professional understandings of sports journalism. A content and textual analysis (n = 494) was conducted of one month of Romano’s tweets and replies. Tweets were categorised according to markers of sports journalism practice. Results show Romano is professionalising sports journalism on social media and subverting understandings of personal branding through favouring objective news over subjective opinion and focusing on the professional rather than the personal. Romano’s transfer news prioritises major European football clubs, which is consistent with the trajectory of sports journalism on digital platforms. Play-by-play commentary is a minor aspect of Romano’s Twitter output, which contributes to the debate on the significance of game coverage to contemporary sports journalism. Tweets did not mention the human rights issues surrounding the World Cup starting in Qatar, even though this was a key talking point. This finding suggests that the normative assumption that sports journalists should scrutinise power and/or highlight social injustice does not always apply to all practitioners in all contexts, particularly where ultra-specialist settings are concerned. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

15 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

European Public Service Media, Disability Sports and Cultural Citizenship in the Digital Age: An Analysis of Agenda Diversity in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

by Xavier Ramon and José Luis Rojas-Torrijos

Journal. Media 2023, 4(1), 289-303; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia4010020 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2966

Abstract

In the current cross-media ecosystem, which is characterized by technological disruption, the prominent relationship between public service media (PSM), sport and cultural citizenship is undergoing a profound transformation. Currently, PSM can utilize its myriad platforms, channels and services to transcend the constraints of [...] Read more.

In the current cross-media ecosystem, which is characterized by technological disruption, the prominent relationship between public service media (PSM), sport and cultural citizenship is undergoing a profound transformation. Currently, PSM can utilize its myriad platforms, channels and services to transcend the constraints of linear broadcasting, find new ways of advancing diversity and overcome the perception of disability sport as a media ‘blind spot’. Through content analysis, the objective of this research has been to examine the agenda diversity on Twitter offered during the timeframe of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by 15 PSM corporations in Europe. This comparative analysis of 6072 tweets demonstrated the uneven attention devoted by European PSM to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. In the aggregate, 39.42% (n = 2398) of the messages focused on the event, although significant imbalances can be observed among the different media organizations, both in terms of the volume of coverage and the attention given to the various Paralympic disciplines and protagonists. From a theoretical perspective, the article adds to the existing literature on the nexus between media, sport and cultural citizenship, signaling the need for PSM to reimagine its social media strategies to counteract the limited visibility of different societal groups and to adequately contribute to enhancing cultural citizenship in the digital age. The results can also inform media practitioners. Despite that the conditioning factors and trade-offs linked to the commercial nature of social networking sites cannot be overlooked, PSM should take into account the importance of promoting inclusion and observe audiences’ increasing interest in disability sport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

11 pages, 2786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Intelligence and Journalism: Current Situation and Expectations in the Portuguese Sports Media

by João Canavilhas

Journal. Media 2022, 3(3), 510-520; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3030035 - 22 Aug 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8547

Abstract

With an important presence in various sectors of activity, Artificial Intelligence has also reached journalism, mostly in the field of natural-language processing, in the detection of informational trends or in the automatic production of texts. The fact that sport is one of the [...] Read more.

With an important presence in various sectors of activity, Artificial Intelligence has also reached journalism, mostly in the field of natural-language processing, in the detection of informational trends or in the automatic production of texts. The fact that sport is one of the first to test AI is not a coincidence: it is a subject in which there is a lot of information online and where data is essential, so it is simpler to resort to natural language processing to transform them in texts with little or no human intervention; this work sought to understand if Artificial Intelligence is already used in Portuguese sports media, but also in mainstream media sports sections, whether they are newspapers, radios, TVs or online natives. A survey was sent only to decision-makers, that is, editors and coordinators. The study seeks to understand to what extent journalists expect AI to help journalism, what are the greatest difficulties of its use and what threats it represents. We can conclude that Portuguese sports journalism is aware of the potential of AI, although for now it is not used in newsrooms due to economic and professional constraints. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

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21 pages, 1000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Framing of the National Men’s Basketball Team Defeats in the Eurobasket Championships (2007–2017) by the Greek Press

by Panagiotis Spiliopoulos, Nikolaos Tsigilis, Maria Matsiola and Ioanna Tsapari

Journal. Media 2022, 3(2), 309-329; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia3020023 - 7 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3107

Abstract

As the study of the negatively expressed news on sports constitutes a scientific area that has not received proper attention by researchers yet, the purpose of this study was to investigate the framing of the Greek national men’s basketball team defeats by the [...] Read more.

As the study of the negatively expressed news on sports constitutes a scientific area that has not received proper attention by researchers yet, the purpose of this study was to investigate the framing of the Greek national men’s basketball team defeats by the Greek press. Articles (n = 178) concerning the Eurobasket championships from 2007 to 2017, published in three political newspapers and one sports newspaper, were analyzed through content analysis. Specifically, the research reflected upon (a) the existence of the primary framework of “attribution of responsibility”, (b) the differences in framing among the newspapers, and (c) where/to whom the Media focused on regarding the defeats. The “attribution of responsibility” framing was found in all newspapers under study, both in the content and in the titles of the articles, primarily the day after the games. Regarding the defeats, the media were centralized around 12 factors and 8 subfactors as components of responsibilities, while a significant number of other frames were also identified as well as the four stages of the framing function. In conclusion, the finding that framing is significantly met in sports reporting contradicts the credited characterization of “cheerleaders” to sports journalists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Changing Boundaries of Sports Journalism in the Digital Era: Technological Disruption, New Actors and Professional Challenges)

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