72713 - Sociology of Sport and Communication

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student: - knows the object and purpose of sports communication; - knows the main sociological theories and social research methods needed to develop positive relations with the mass and new media; - has the basic information to produce a house organ; - can master the main techniques for analysing sports television audiences; - can produce press releases; - can promote the image of his/her club or sports team; - can relate with sponsors and advertisers.

Course contents

The course aims to promote knowledge of the communicative processes that shape sport according to a multidimensional perspective, with particular reference to three areas: 1) the products of the sports cultural industry (analysis of technological changes on forms of representation, narration and medial interpretation of sport); 2) the main actors of the sports communication industry; 3) the empirical study of the different areas in which material and immaterial actors of sport move in order to understand the contemporary 'sportscape'.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Course will be divided into three parts: institutional, seminar and laboratory. In its institutional part the Course will dedicate specific attention to the communication processes taking place in the world of sport and physical activities, in the light of the close interrelation between sport, media and society. The cognitive question that will guide the analysis of the social processes at work (through the use of methodological tools, such as databases and others) will be: "How are physical practices and the relations between audience, sport, media and society changing? In its seminar part, insights and thematic insights into the sociology of sport and communication will be developed. In its laboratory part during the lectures methodological tools for sociological investigation in sport and communication will be analysed and studied, with the possibility of carrying out a PROJECT WORK (NOT MANDATORY). A pro-active approach by the students to the topics of the Course will be encouraged through the study and production of new knowledge aimed at learning the value and cultural frames of reference within which the world of sports communication moves.

Readings/Bibliography

The books recommended for preparation for the final examination are:

Sport e comunicazione. Teorie, storia, scenari. Alessandro Perisssinotto, Mondadori (for the parts indicated in the lecture).

Sport e comunicazione nell'era digitale  - Media, processi, attori.. Luca Bifulco et al., FrancoAngeli, Milan (for the parts indicated in the lecture).

The  textbooks will be supplemented by appropriate digital material to achieve the course objectives in terms of final skills.
Any further supplementary and/or substitute material will be indicated in class and made available on the web platform.
Attending students will bring a syllabus agreed upon during the lectures.
FREQUENTING students are those who will attend lectures and carry out PROJECT WORK during the course.

ERASMUS OR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COULD ASK FOR A TEXTBOOK IN English.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of some lectures, seminars (online and in-presence) and case studies, also illustrated with the aid of new communication technologies.
The teaching approach will be that of active and cooperative learning, also through the new technologies made available by the UniBo IT system (e.g. Wooclap).

Assessment methods

The student will acquire the envisaged 6 Cfu by passing a written test to verify the learning of the contents presented in class and developed in the textbooks recommended, with the teaching material provided in class for attending students.

For NON-ATTENDING students, the examination will take the form of a written test of 4 open questions and 10 multiple choice questions.

The final exam for NON-ATTENDING students, will be conducted from the materials presented in class and uploaded in Virtuale and chapters 1-2-3-8-9 + 'Approfondimenti' starting at pages 123/133/145 of the text on 'Sport e Comunicazione' as well as chapters 1-2-3-4-6-7-8-9-12-13-14-15 of the text on 'Sport e Comunicazione nell'Era Digitale'.

Important information:

Attending students : There is a final test dedicated to attending students.
Attendings are those students who will attend lectures -to the extent of 66% minimum- and carry out a PROJECT WORK during the course. The final test of frequent attendees will be conducted from the materials presented in class and chapters 1-2-3-8-9 of the text on 'Sport and Communication' and chapters 3-4-6-8-14 of the text on 'Sport and Communication in the Digital Age'.
The test will consist of tests with about 25 multiple-choice or short answer or fill-in-the-gap questions.

Validity of the examination programme. The student retains the right to take the aforementioned programme for two academic years. After this period, the out-of-course student must take the syllabus of the year in which he/she is presenting. Students wishing to take advantage of this opportunity MUST - at the same time as booking an examination - notify the lecturer by email.

Students with specific learning disorders will be able to obtain more suitable ways of passing the exam - for example, more time - if they contact the University Service in advance (Via Belle Arti 42, 40126 Bologna. Dedicated telephone number for students with DSA: 051. 209 5943, who will in turn inform the lecturer of the type of difficulty encountered and possible solutions.

Teaching tools

Video projections of the main contents of the lectures in the form of Power Point presentations.
It is also possible to draw information from the publications of the "Sport, Body, Society" series, set up by the SportComLab of the AlmaMater and published by FrancoAngeli (Milan), whose titles can be found at the following url: https://centri.unibo.it/sportcomlab/it
Students may ask for information or explanations during office hours -which will take place after the lecture hours- or by email appointment.

Office hours

See the website of Nico Bortoletto

See the website of Alfredo De Martini