Sports Communication Research: Media Influence and Analysis

This report delves into the multifaceted realm of sports communication, examining the influence of media on athletes, sports journalism, and the broader sports industry. It analyzes research methodologies, data collection techniques, and findings related to social media usage by student-athletes and the impact of critical tweets. The report also explores the evolving role of sports journalists in the age of social media, focusing on gatekeeping and the hierarchy of influences. Through a review of existing literature and research studies, the report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of various research approaches, providing insights into the dynamic relationship between sports, communication, and media. The analysis covers topics like the positive and negative impacts of social media, the strategies employed by student-athletes in managing their online presence, and the changing landscape of sports journalism in the digital era. Furthermore, the report underscores the importance of proactive strategies for athletic departments in guiding student-athletes' use of social media and responding to online criticism. The report concludes with a critical evaluation of the methodologies employed, offering recommendations for future research and practical implications for sports communication professionals.

Running head: SPORTS COMMUNICATION
SPORTS COMMUNICATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

1SPORTS COMMUNICATION
Answer 1
The research is important as it provides an in depth understanding of the functions of Sports
communication both in the paradigm of practical and theoretical arenas, which contains
variant perspectives of historical insights, socio culturalism and political perspectives. In
addition, it educates one about the historical importance of this domain, that is, about the
historical background of its expansion and growth in both the dynamics of academic sports
and sports industry (Pedersen, et al., 2016). The research portrays an importance of the
factors that triggered the evolution of sports communication along with maintaining the
importance of media as the powerful element in the parameter of sports industry as well as
society.
Answer 2
To gather data from the research, potential subjects were asked to participate through
professional national sports team with the help of press relation office. Preferably, Football
and Hockey sports team were contacted through press relation office via telephone and e-
mail and were asked to forward the respective list of the interested members. Most of the
teams did not respond. At the end of the day, fourteen teams responded back to process the
required survey. The list were further sent to sports journalists in order to cover multiple
professional background that includes hockey and football teams. The research further
proceeded with survey questions in which the participants were asked to describe media’s
influence on them towards sport professionalism (Pedersen, et al., 2016). The research along
with sport teams, audiences were studied as they are important for the most effective
methodologies like contribution of ratings, corporations and sponsors. Measuring the degree
of diverse cultural and environmental trending influences, reports were made. The measures

2SPORTS COMMUNICATION
were categorized under certain levels that includes individual level, organizational,
ideological level. Through these parameters preliminary analysis and evaluations were made.
Answer 3
Through the sampling method, preliminary analysis were made in which most of the
participants were from sports media industry in comparison to the participants who were
from national sports team (Pedersen, et al., 2016). The researchers also uses the concepts of
operational mode through data collection method in a quantitative size. The communication
research using such samples provide powerful sources of concrete evidences.
Answer 4
The data was analyzed through the methodology of qualitative as well as quantitative size
that includes the audience of sports media industry providing content analysis on media text
(Pedersen, et al., 2016). It includes the process of accessibility of search engines, database
resources and other resources of social phenomenon. Though it is time consuming yet it
provides straightforward evidences. In addition, participants of national professional sports
team were a major source of data. Through these sources the data analysis war processed and
delivered the most significant and valuable evaluations of the research study.
Answer 5
The thorough analysis of the homogeneous nature of the research topic reinforces certain
significant findings regarding the diverse influences of media in the sports communication
(Pedersen, et al., 2016). The participants are preferably indicating to organizational level
influences that points out that the topic being the nature of homogeneity, the perception of
influences are diverse but uniform.
Answer 6

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The strength and weakness of the survey research article were examined thoroughly. In the
course of the survey of sports communication research, it is found that the researchers tends
to approach a large population. Through such strategy they carry the survey with different
required question, identified as typical cross sectional survey. Following it, they are able to
evaluate the analysis with ease (Pedersen, et al., 2016). Therefore, it is identified as the
strength of the research process in the article. On the contrary, weaknesses includes the
inadequate study analysis, provided with complicated issues. The strategy to process the
survey is not well designed. Therefore, it is marked as the limitation of the article.
The recommendation for the article is to improve the orientation of the research process. To
prevent the inflexibility present in the survey research, the design of the study needs to be
worked upon or modified. The survey research must follow the scientific method as it does
not measure the social actions but delivers the past and hypothetical action of the participants.
Answer 7
The implications of qualitative as well as quantitative method through the evidence of sample
method provides a direct and authentic report of phenomenon and events (Pedersen, et al.,
2016). The surveys and the process of participant observation, interviewing and opinions with
an inclusion of cross sectional questions deliver the in depth analysis of sports
communication research provided with knowledgeable insights of historical growth and the
social phenomenon observed in the industry of both sports journalism and sports
communication.

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References
Filo, K., Lock, D., & Karg, A. (2015). Sport and social media research: A review. Sport
management review, 18(2), 166-181.
Gratton, C., & Jones, I. (2014). Research methods for sports studies. Routledge.
Lee, C., & Kahle, L. (2016). The Linguistics of Social Media: Communication of Emotions
and Values in Sport. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 25(4).
Pedersen, P. M., Laucella, P. C., Kian, E., & Geurin, A. N. (2016). Strategic sport
communication. Human Kinetics.
Siguencia, L. O., Herman, D., Marzano, G., & Rodak, P. (2017). The Role of Social Media in
Sports Communication Management: an Analysis of Polish Top League Teams’
Strategy. Procedia computer science, 104, 73-80.
Siguencia, L. O., Herman, D., Marzano, G., & Rodak, P. (2017). The Role of Social Media in
Sports Communication Management: an Analysis of Polish Top League Teams’
Strategy. Procedia computer science, 104, 73-80.