The face of sports media—especially as seen on pregame, postgame and halftime shows on television—may seem diverse. But just how representative of athletes, sports fans and American society is it? What about management—the people who do the hiring and assigning and decision-making about what is covered, and how? What about women in sports media? And what do diversity advocates have to say about sports media and coverage of the issues? What can—and should—change?
These questions and others will be explored as part of “Making the Calls: The State of Diversity in Sports Media in 2014,” a daylong forum sponsored by the Sports Media Center in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The event will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium in Newhouse 3. Follow on Twitter at #MakingtheCalls.
“Sports and the way we cover them say a lot about our society,” says John Nicholson, director of the center and a professor of practice in broadcast and digital journalism. “In his book ‘How the Weather Was,’ Roger Kahn wrote, ‘Sports tell anyone who watches intelligently about the times in which we live: about managed news and corporate politics, about race and terror and what the process of aging does to strong men. If that sounds grim, there is courage and high humor too.’”
The seminar will open with welcoming remarks from Newhouse Dean Lorraine Branham, followed by a series of panel discussions with an array of sports media professionals and diversity advocates.
10:20-11:20 a.m.: Management/Decisionmakers
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Journalists/broadcast, print and online writers and reporters
2-3 p.m.: Advocates: Professionals Working for Diversity in Sports Media
3:10-4:20 p.m.: Women’s Issues:
“One of the key goals of the Newhouse Sports Media Center is to provide forums for informed and thoughtful discussion of serious issues involving sports and sports media,” Nicholson says. “Stories involving use of ‘code words,’ athletes coming out, criticism of sports media organizations not being inclusive enough in reporting and decision-making positions and much more make this topic a natural for the center. By bringing in a diverse group of professionals involved at many levels as well as advocates for diversity in sports media, we hope to shed some light on something that matters.”
The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow. For more information, contact Nicholson at 315-443-4065 or jsnich01@syr.edu.
