*CFP* "REPORTING SPORTS: THEORETICAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN A CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE", MEDIA SKILLS SERIES

Journalists and the mass media play a key role in the formation of the public agenda, the sharing of information and the creation of norms within society (Bernstein, 2002; Hardy, 2008). For many years sports journalism was seen as a “poor relation” within the industry while, paradoxically, being one of its mostpopular and profitable areas. However some critics, such as Oates and Pauly, argue that “Sports coverage routinely violates the ethical norms by which the profession asks to be judged” (2007: 233). Thus, sports journalists are subject to a series of criticisms such as: that they blur the boundaries between opinion and information; the use of rumour; their coverage lacks rigour; sensationalisation; inequalities in the treatment of gender, race and disability, and; the use of low quality sources (Hardin, et al, 2009; Oates & Pauly, 2007; Rowe, 2007, and Wanta, 2013). Furthermore, this is happening at a time of considerable technological change with in the industry. As such there are considerable organisational, technological and cultural considerations for modern sports journalists yet there is little empirical consideration as to how these issues impact upon their working lives or what best practice in this area looks like. This book is not a ‘how to’ guide for budding sports journalists. Instead it seeks to interrogate the theoretical and ethical considerations for students in the field as well as those working across the broadcast, print and online media platforms within which contemporary sports journalism is produced and consumed.

The Media Skills series provides concise and thorough introductions to a rapidly changing media landscape. Each book is written by media and journalism lecturers or experienced professionals and is a key resource for a particular industry. Offering helpful advice and information and using practical examples from print, broadcast and digital media, as well as discussing ethical and regulatory issues, Media Skills books are essential guides for students and media professionals.

Potential Themes may include (but are not limited to):

• Challenging the under-representation of minorities within the profession of sports journalism; 
• Issues of (in)visibility (and resistance) of marginalised, non-normative groups in mainstream sport media (e.g. disability, sexuality)
• the gendered framing of female athletes and/or female non-athletes in coverage of male sports 
• damaging narratives articulated in the coverage of BAME athletes
• the positioning of athletes as role models and the reportage of sports star’s off-field activities; 
• considerations on the impact of social media on the practices of sports journalists; 
• responses from mainstream sport media to challenges from alternative platforms

Information about Submissions

Proposals should include the following: an abstract of 300-400 words (not including references) and a brief (>100 word) author CV that describes previous and current research. Please submit your proposal as one file (PDF) with your name/s clearly stated in the file name and the first page. Send your proposal to roger.domeneghetti@northumbria.ac.uk by March 15th 2019.

Invited contributors will be asked to submit a full-length chapter of approximately 6-7,000 words by 20th December, 2019. All manuscripts will be peer reviewed by the editors, and the authors will be notified of the final acceptance/rejection decision. Co-authored chapters are welcome chapters that are authored, or co-authored. Those who are interested in contributing to this volume, but are less familiar with writing for academic publications can contact the guest editor to discuss how proposed contributions can be converted into a potential submission.

Timeline:

Submissions of abstract: March 15th 2019

Invitation to submit chapter: May 10th 2019

Chapter submission December: 20th 2019

Feedback to authors: 20th April 2020

Completed chapters due: 20th May 2020

Completed book submission to Routledge: 1st August 2020

For further information, contact:

Roger Domeneghetti: roger.domeneghetti@northumbria.ac.uk

Publisher: Routledge, Media Skills Series