The Role of Media in Shaping Sports Narratives
Sporting activities across the globe have been part and parcel of human culture for many years, and they have played a more critical role in social movements. The two different articles, “Radical Sports Journalism? Reflections on ‘Alternative’ Approaches to Covering Sport-Related Social Issues” by Shawn Forde and Brian Wilson and “The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction” by Tim Delaney and Tim Madigan, describe the existing relations between social movements and sports.
“The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction” has been well-accepted by reviewers and readers as an insightful and comprehensive explanation of the sociological elements of sports. The authors examine the role of sporting activities in society and their effects on different social factors such as globalization, politics, race, and gender. Chapter 15, “The Media in Sports,” in “The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction,” delves into the function of media in sports in depth. The writers investigate how media coverage influences public perceptions of sports and how sports companies and individuals use media to market their brands. The chapter also looks at the effect of social media on sports, such as how athletes utilize platforms like Instagram and Twitter to interact with fans and promote themselves.
The chapter contains an informative overview of how the media affects sports and public opinion of athletes. According to Delaney and Madigan, the media’s sports coverage can influence how spectators perceive athletes and their performance. The writers examine “mediatization,” the process through which media becomes the dominating force in molding cultural norms and values (Delaney and Madigan 225). The authors contend that mediation has contributed to the marketing of sports and the growth of superstar athletes, who frequently receive extensive media coverage.
While the chapter offers a thorough examination of the effect of the press on sports, one possible criticism is that it needs to address the issue of media bias in sports. The authors admit that media coverage of sports can impact public opinions of sports. However, they do not investigate how media bias can distort coverage of specific sports, teams, or athletes. For example, the authors may have investigated the potential effect of media bias in sports coverage of contentious events such as the Black Lives Matter movement or incidents of sexual misconduct by athletes. Another point of criticism is that the chapter might use more concrete examples to demonstrate its claims.
While the authors offer theoretical frameworks that clarify the function of the media in athletics, they might have strengthened their arguments with particular instances or examples from actual sporting events. For example, the authors may have investigated media coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and how the COVID-19 epidemic impacted media coverage and the public’s opinion of the event. Despite these critiques, the chapter offers an insightful discussion of social media’s effect on sports.
According to Delaney and Madigan, social media has allowed athletes to promote themselves and communicate with fans. They argue that social media can democratize sports by giving players control over their brands and shaping their public image. However, the writers point out that social media may be a double-edged sword, with the possibility of negative criticism and online harassment. Chapter 15 of Delaney and Madigan’s book is an excellent resource for anybody interested in the interaction of media with sports. While the chapter could use an in-depth look at bias in the media and more specific instances to back up its claims, it does provide a thorough overview of the effect of media on sports and the possibility of social media transforming sports media.
Radical Sports Journalism and Its Impact on Social Discourse
Shawn Forde and Brian Wilson’s incisive article “Radical Sports Journalism? Reflections on ‘Alternative’ Approaches to Covering Sport-Related Social Issues” examines the advantages and disadvantages of a radical approach to sports journalism. According to the writers, conventional sports writing frequently misses the social and political themes fundamental to the activity. They contend that critical and socially conscious radical sports journalism can present a more thorough and nuanced vision of the sports world (Forde & Wilson 72).
The writers also discuss some of this strategy’s possible drawbacks, like the difficulty of locating sources and information and the chance of alienating readers and advertisers. The paper, as a whole, makes a strong case for the value of radical sports journalism in tackling the social and political issues connected to sports. It poses significant queries regarding the function of journalism in society and offers a thought-provoking analysis of this strategy’s potential advantages and difficulties.
It is essential to remember that the research is primarily theoretical and offers no empirical data to back up its assertions. It would have been advantageous to add case studies or examples of radical sports journalism to give readers a more precise grasp of how this strategy can work. The article makes a strong case for a novel approach to sports journalism.
The authors contend that conventional sports writing frequently downplays or overlooks the social and political issues inherent in sports. A more critical and socially conscious approach is required to present a comprehensive and nuanced picture of the world of sports (Forde & Wilson 71). They provide instances of topics that traditional sports journalism frequently ignores, like racism, misogyny, and corruption in sports.
Moreover, the study addresses significant problems regarding the function of journalism in society and the possible impact of sports journalism on social and political issues. According to the writers, radical sports journalism may expose power relations and raise awareness of topics frequently disregarded by the mainstream media (Forde & Wilson 75). The difficulties in acquiring information and the danger of alienating readers and advertisers are some of the potential hazards and difficulties of this strategy that are also covered.
One complaint is that the paper needs to offer doable suggestions for how journalists may approach sports journalism with a radical perspective. The authors acknowledge the drawbacks of this strategy, such as the difficulty in finding information and sources. However, they offer a few suggestions for getting around these problems. The article must also emphasize many potential drawbacks of a novel sports journalistic style. It must be evident whether this technique is appropriate for all sports journalism, despite the authors’ claim that a more critical and socially conscious approach is required.
Sports as a Platform for Social Change
The Black Lives Matter movement is one instance of a modern movement that has utilized sports as a platform for social change. Many prominent athletes started utilizing their platforms to speak out against racism and police violence after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. For the 2020 playoffs, the NBA, for instance, permitted players to wear jerseys featuring social justice slogans. The WNBA also committed to social justice this season, and before warmups, players wore “Say Her Name” T-shirts in memory of Breonna Taylor.
Work Cited
Delaney Tim, and Tim Madigan. (2021). The Sociology of Sports: An Introduction. McFarland.
Forde, Shawn, and Brian Wilson. (2018). “Radical Sports Journalism? Reflections on ‘Alternative Approaches to Covering Sport-related Social Issues.” Sociology of Sport Journal 35(1):66-76.