MMC 3703 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Brandi Chastain, Serena Williams, List Of Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards
12 Jan 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Coverage of Women in Sports Media
● There’s times and moments where it is covered.
○ For example the World Cup. Serena Williams in Tennis is highly covered.
○ Brandi Chastain World Cup Moment
● Conflict
○ Williams disqualified for threatening linesman
● What determines whether a women’s sports/team/player is covered in media?
○ For 5 years, news coverage dropped from 6.3% to 1.6% of all sports.
○ Women’s only make up: 3.5% of Newspaper sports stories and 6% of local tv
○ ESPN devotes 2% of airtime to women’s sports.
● Criticism
○ You're telling little girls that female sports don’t matter.
○ Coverage is trivialized (Image over athletic accomplishments)
■ Anna Kournikova- ESPN: Hottest Female Athlete; also 1 Most overrated
Athlete.
■ Media appears to reward athletes who look and act “feminine on and off
field”
● Why not more?
○ Argument: Women less interested in Sports. Counter: Women make up around
half of all sports/physical activity participant and spectators.
○ Argument: Men's sports are simply more popular. Counter: What does the
media influence?
○ Argument: Media influences how important something is by how much
prominence and space it gives a story.
○ Agenda Setting media influences how important something is by how much
prominence and space it gives a story.
■ Elena Delle Donne- The New York Times gave her the cover of the
Sunday Sports Section.
○ Central Debate: Role of Sex/Image vs. Accomplishment/Athleticism. Who
Decides?
● Social Responsibility?
○ Not responsibility of media to promote a sport but smart business to tell great
stories?
● Where are we?
○ ESPN launches ESPNW.com
○ ESPN study 1999-2009: coverage dipped fro 2- 1.5% on SC.
● Exam Questions:
○ Elena Delle Donne’s time in UConn? 1 day
○ Birthday of Lizzy Delle Donne? April 27
○ Who interviewed the hurdlers on tv? Beedle
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
There"s times and moments where it is covered. For 5 years, news coverage dropped from 6. 3% to 1. 6% of all sports. Women"s only make up: 3. 5% of newspaper sports stories and 6% of local tv. Espn devotes 2% of airtime to women"s sports. You"re telling little girls that female sports don"t matter. Coverage is trivialized (image over athletic accomplishments) Anna kournikova- espn: hottest female athlete; also 1 most overrated. Media appears to reward athletes who look and act feminine on and off. Counter: women make up around half of all sports/physical activity participant and spectators. Argument: men"s sports are simply more popular. Argument: media influences how important something is by how much prominence and space it gives a story. Agenda setting media influences how important something is by how much prominence and space it gives a story. Elena delle donne- the new york times gave her the cover of the. Central debate: role of sex/image vs. accomplishment/athleticism.
