Sports and Media

In my American Sport in the 21st Century class we discussed the role of sport and the mass media on October 27 and November 1. The main question to answer during this discussion was could they survive without each other? Also we talked about the different roles of the media, the characteristics of the media, linkages between sport and the media, a couple definitions, the different social media categories, and what the media chooses to show us.

Roles of the Media

• Inform
• Entertain
• Educate
• Advertise

Characteristics of the Media

• Print Media- Considered (old media). Words and images printed on paper
• Examples: Newspapers, Magazines, Books, Catalogs.
• Electronic/Visual Media- (new media). Words, commentary, and images we receive through audio and video devices.
• Examples: Social media, Television, Radio.

Changes to sport as a result of the media

• Schedules and starting time
• Length of halftime period
• TV timeouts
• Expansion of leagues

Social media Categories

• Sites where users dictate the content and the popularity of that contest
• Communication services: (Facebook, Twitter, Google, Buzz)
• Entertainment: (Hulu, YouTube, Netflix)
• Professional Networks: (LinkedIn, Ezdia).
• Multimedia:(U stream, Skype, Live-stream)
• Smartphone apps: (At-bat 14, fanvison)
• Mobile couponing: (groupon, living special)
• Twitter- 974 million users, 150,000 signup per day

What the media chooses to show us

• Less airtime for women's sports
• Limited coverage for women's sports teams
• Heightened focus on the women's personal life/appearance
• Fewer strength descriptions
• Fewer slow motion replays
• Fewer on-screen stats
• Women referred to by 1st name

Stereo typical ideologies

Men: Bigger, Faster, Stronger, more athletic

Women: eye candy, and objects of desire

In the article The Importance of Social Media in Sport it discusses they different ways that technology and media are doing different things to get involved in sports. The article discusses the different ways businesses can get involved like sponsorship and social media promotions. Social media is a great way to get the fans involved. Different apps that grant the fans with that opportunity.I feel that social media and sport have become super connected and if you were to separate them they would not survive very long. They thrive off each other.