Disrupting Sports Journalism

This book critically explores the impact that digital technology has had on the practices and norms of sports journalism. In the wake of major digital disruptions in news reporting, the author analyses how sports journalism has been particularly vulnerable to challenges and attacks on its expertise because of its historically weak commitment to professionalism. Ultimately, an argument is built that sports journalism’s professional distinctiveness will depend on its capacity to produce rigorous news work at a time when its core, routinised practices are being displaced by bloggers and team media. Recent developments such as The Athletic, a start-up that has built its business model around quality sports storytelling, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic offer hope that a paradigm shift in digital sports journalism culture towards serious reporting is starting to emerge. The question for both the industry and scholars going forward is whether these changes will crystallise and take hold in the long term. Disrupting Sports Journalism is a valuable text for researchers and students in sports media and journalism studies, as well as for industry professionals seeking an insight into developments in the field.

The boundaries of sports journalism continue to expand as non-traditional actors emerge and proliferate in the digital environment. This outstanding and vital specialist area within the news industry faces increasing pressure from adjacent fields. Amateur sports enthusiasts (bloggers, streamers or influencers) and team media for sports organizations adopt many of the roles and tasks historically attributed to sports journalism and engage in activities that may be perceived and regarded as journalistic by audiences. The arrival of new actors around the journalistic field, the heavy use of social media and its impact on sports consumption patterns, the search for new business models for news organizations, and the disrupting technology that is being explored and applied in sports coverage all require new conceptual approaches to better understand the sports news industry in the digital age. All of these considerations led eighteen authors from nine countries (Greece, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Australia, Ireland, and Sweden) to publish their research contributions and broaden the discussion in this MDPI reprint about the current trends in the sports media landscape and the most pressing challenges that sports journalists need to face in the years to come.

As the funding of journalism moves centre stage as a driver in shaping the new trajectories of journalism in the digital age, this book focuses on how those working in sports journalism have had to adapt and re-invent themselves. Running through this international collection are key themes related to sports journalism in the digital environment. These include aspects of disruption to: established norms of journalistic practice; institutional allegiance; the authority and primary definer role of journalism; and the career structure and development for journalists writing about sport. The book draws on empirically-led research that mixes qualitative and quantitative approaches and seeks to better understand and position what is going on across contemporary sports journalism. In so doing, this collection identifies change, but also areas of continuity as well as new opportunities for journalists. This book was originally published as a special issue of Digital Journalism.

This book is about how new media, and in particular, digital and social media, has changed the world of sports forever. The way fans receive information, communicate and form communities now predominantly lives online. But perhaps even more significant is the evolution of the sports media industry, where digital media has impacted the broader media industry, stimulated new media organisations, changed old media organisations and altered old conventions of journalism in equal measure. Drawing on the expertise of academics, scholars, experts and professionals at the forefront of the sports, media, and journalism fields, the book suggests that new media has turned the sports industry on its head with profound implications – both exciting and disturbing.

This first book in the Journalism Insights series examines the major practical and ethical challenges confronting contemporary sports journalists which have emerged from, or been exacerbated by, the use of digital and social media. Combining both quantitative and qualitative research and contributions from industry experts in sports reporting across Europe, America and Australia, the collection offers a valuable look at the digital sports reporting industry today. Issues discussed in the text include the ethical questions created by social media abuse received by sports journalists, the impact of social media on narratives about gender and race, and the ‘silencing’ of journalists over the issue of trans athletes, as well as the impact on ‘traditional’ aspects of sports journalism, such as the match report. The book features first-hand accounts from leading sports reporters and scholars about how these changes have affected the industry and sets out what ‘best practice’ looks like in this field today. This book will be a useful resource for scholars and students working in the fields of journalism, media, sports and communication, as well as for current sports journalism practitioners interested in the future of a changing industry.

Based on interviews with leading sports journalists and grounded in the authors’ experience and expertise in both the sports journalism industry and sports media research, Sports Journalism gives in-depth insight into the editorial and ethical challenges facing sports journalists in a fast-changing media environment. The book considers how sports journalism’s past has shaped its present and explores the future trends and trajectories that the industry could take. The far-reaching consequences of the digital revolution and social media on sports journalists’ work are analysed, with prominent sports writers, broadcasters and academics giving their insights. While predominantly focused on the UK sports media industry, the book also provides a global perspective, and includes case studies, research and interviews from around the world. Issues of diversity – or a lack of it – in the industry are put into sharp focus. Sports Journalism gives both practising sports journalists and aspiring sports journalists vital contextualising information to make them more thoughtful and reflective practitioners.

Boyle’s study is essential reading for all students, teachers and researchers of sports journalism. - Journalism "Very clear and accessible, addressing key and complex issues in a plain and clearcut way." -Alan Tomlinson, University of Brighton Across all media; print, broadcast as well as online, sports journalism has come to occupy an increasingly visible space. This book looks at the institutional, cultural and economic environment and provides an invaluable overview of contemporary sports journalism across all media forms. The book: Situates sports journalism within the broader historical, economic, technological and cultural contexts. Examines the commercialisation of sport and the impact this is having on sports journalism. Looks at the relationship between PR and journalism. Considers the gendered nature of the industry and the impact of digital technology on professional practice.

Sports Journalism Second Edition introduces students to sports reporting careers and to the writing style, technology and social media skills sports writers and media relations professionals use. The book stresses the importance of basic writing fundamentals and high ethical standards, essential values for sports journalists.