Question

Discuss the role of the media in shaping perceptions about racial and ethnic diversity in professional and amateur sports.

Answer 1

Media is tasked with the role of unbiased reporting of facts on any subject matter presented to them. But such reporting is almost always presented with opinions on the facts of the media reporters reflecting their personal biases. This, clubbed with the highly successful market marriage of Media and Sports has led to (Mass) Media shaping perceptions of people and society about racial and ethnic diversity in professional and amateur sports.

As mentioned previously, Media coverage of facts is opinionated with reporting biases. Thus, Media gives racially colored coverage to certain races.

Take the example of African American athletes. On the face of it, one might think that Media showers this community with alt of positive coverage what with compliments like -
1. Superior strength
2. Natural talent
3. Muscular bodies, etc.
Such comments are commonplace be it Football and the NFL or Basketball and NBA.

But a closer look at these compliments vis-a-vis compliments to their white counterparts will show how the media is in fact reinforcing ancient stereotypes. White athletes are praised for their sports intellect - Sports IQ - while the African American athletes get the 'Physical Superiority' comments. This is, inter alia, a reinforcement of White Supremacy and 'superior white intellect.' This makes people believe that African American athletes are 'strong' but it is the White Athletes who are rather 'smart.'

A study conducted by the University of Colorado regarding the same shows how, a survey on who should be Quarterback and who should be Leader gave results -
African American athletes better suited to be Quarterbacks and
White Athletes to be more suited as Leaders.

Such media bias in not limited to African American athletes but to other ethnic cultures too. In 2006 Cricket Commentator Dean Jones referred to Hashim Amla as a 'terrorist' for the reason of his physical appearance and long beard overlooking his cricket skills.

It is long known how Sports is thought to be a Man's domain. As such, Women sports suffer from multiple issues of -
1. Low media coverage
2. Unnecessary objectification of Women athletes as sexual objects rather than skilled players
Consequence - poor and dis-interested public opinion regarding female sports. Tangibly, female sports get low viewership and low commercial sponsorship.

Thus, Media plays a key role in sports reporting sports and shaping public opinion. Thus, there should be more responsible reporting so as to BREAK and not reinforce social stereotypes.