Location
Sydnor Performance Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 3:45 PM
End Date
4-17-2024 4:00 PM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Communication Studies
Keywords
Sports, Sports Broadcasting, Broadcasting, Communication Studies, Broadcast Journalism, Theory of Reasoned Action, Framing Theory, Bias, Objectivity.
Abstract
Sports broadcasting is something that has come to the forefront of many people’s daily lives. With the introduction of streaming services that offer live sports in markets large and small, almost anyone can experience any broadcast they please. Although sports broadcasts have a large staff to be successful, there is only one true medium between the broadcast and the audience. The play-by-play and color commentators on any type of broadcast are the true medium between what the audience sees and what they understand. However, as there are nearly an unlimited number of broadcasts available for the average consumer, there has been increased exposure and criticism of whether these broadcasters are objective or not. Although objectivity is held of the highest importance, smaller markets have begun to leverage bias to differentiate themselves from their fans. Therefore, by looking at studies done across Major League Baseball, as well as other major sporting leagues in the United States, and looking at broadcasters who are esteemed in their nationally awarded positions, one can use the theory of reasoned action and framing theory to determine the amount of bias that is necessary for specific situations, along with how this bias affects the viewer. On the local and smaller market broadcasts, bias is leveraged as a positive for the viewers. While on the nationally broadcast and widespread markets, objectivity has the utmost importance. As objectivity is an important feature of everyday life, the process of using environmental and demographic aspects of the theory of reasoned action to determine objectivity extends past sports broadcasting and into other fields of communication.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Jeremy Langett, Dr. Michael Robinson, Dr. Beth Savage
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Learning Objectivity in Sports Broadcasting through the Theory of Reasoned Action
Sydnor Performance Hall
Sports broadcasting is something that has come to the forefront of many people’s daily lives. With the introduction of streaming services that offer live sports in markets large and small, almost anyone can experience any broadcast they please. Although sports broadcasts have a large staff to be successful, there is only one true medium between the broadcast and the audience. The play-by-play and color commentators on any type of broadcast are the true medium between what the audience sees and what they understand. However, as there are nearly an unlimited number of broadcasts available for the average consumer, there has been increased exposure and criticism of whether these broadcasters are objective or not. Although objectivity is held of the highest importance, smaller markets have begun to leverage bias to differentiate themselves from their fans. Therefore, by looking at studies done across Major League Baseball, as well as other major sporting leagues in the United States, and looking at broadcasters who are esteemed in their nationally awarded positions, one can use the theory of reasoned action and framing theory to determine the amount of bias that is necessary for specific situations, along with how this bias affects the viewer. On the local and smaller market broadcasts, bias is leveraged as a positive for the viewers. While on the nationally broadcast and widespread markets, objectivity has the utmost importance. As objectivity is an important feature of everyday life, the process of using environmental and demographic aspects of the theory of reasoned action to determine objectivity extends past sports broadcasting and into other fields of communication.