15540 - Sports Journalism

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course the student will be able to understand and identify changes in the communication of sport through mass media and new media, with particular reference to socio-cultural processes, which govern the work of sports journalists and which stimule new communication skills in the field of sport and physical activities.

Briefly, the student will be able to explore the process of production and consumption of informations in the transition from traditional forms of communication to the most innovative journalism (blogs, free newspapers, online newspapers, etc.).

Course contents

The Course of Sport Journalism will illustrate the main ways of the newsmaking process (the construction and the distribution of news), and the related theories of communication, useful to understand the changes in the field of journalistic communication, specially the transition between "old" and "new" media in the field of sport and physical activities.

At the end of the Course the student will be able to interpret journalism as a relevant profession in the contemporary society in its main aspects: the criteria of news worthiness; the credibility of news; the problem of manipulation in the press; the market of the informations and the variety of readerships; the fields of journalism; the relations with the media owners, and other social actors in the sport professions.

Readings/Bibliography

Note:The programs are differentiated by Degree.

 Programme for students AMB (3CFU)

The textbooks required for the preparation of the final exam are 2 (minimum program: 3 questions):

1) Sorrentino C., Studiare giornalismo. Ambiti, logiche, attori, Carocci, Roma, 2013: (only chapt. 1-8 + chap. 11, pagg. 11-172 + 201-211).

2) Martelli S. (2010), Lo sport “mediato”. Le audience televisive di Olimpiadi, Paralimpiadi e Campionati europei di calcio (2000-2008), FrancoAngeli, Milano: (only chap. 2, pagg. 26-85).

 It is possible to bring the program expanded, ie the minimum program + a book chosen from among the following titles (4 questions + 1 bonus):

1. Gili G. (2005), Quando e perché la comunicazione ha successo, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli (Cz).
2. Germano I. S. (2012), La società sportiva. Significati e pratiche della sociologia dello sport, Rubbettino Soveria Mannelli (Cz).
3. Lo Iacono M. (2012), Il giornalismo sportivo. La professione nelle redazioni dei giornali, Gremese, Roma.

 The candidate must also write an essay on a topic sports(3-4 folders long). It will consist of three parts:
a) the sporting event: the reasons for the choice and brief description (max. 2 pages);
b) the newsworthiness of the event: the principles of press release (max. 1 page);

c) the news release itself, which is the text to be sent to newspapers  (minimum: half-folder, max.: 1 page).
The press release should be delivered within 10 days before the exam to:

giovanna.russo6@unibo.it; The teacher can send it back with comments to improve it.

 Programme for studentsMAMS (4CFU)

 The textbooks required for the preparation of the final exam are 2 (minimum program: 4 questions):

1) Sorrentino C., Studiare giornalismo. Ambiti, logiche, attori, Carocci, Roma, 2013

2) Martelli S. (2010), Lo sport “mediato”. Le audience televisive di Olimpiadi, Paralimpiadi e Campionati europei di calcio (2000-2008), FrancoAngeli, Milano

 It is possible to bring the program enlarged, ie the minimum program + a book chosen from among the following titles (5 questions: 1 bonus + the possibility to enjoy as well the 2nd bonus):

1. Gili G. (2005), Quando e perché la comunicazione ha successo, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli (Cz).
2. Germano I. S. (2012), La società sportiva. Significati e pratiche della sociologia dello sport, Rubbettino Soveria Mannelli (Cz).
3. Lo Iacono M. (2012), Il giornalismo sportivo. La professione nelle redazioni dei giornali, Gremese, Roma.

 The candidate mustalso write an essay on a topic sports(3-4 folders long). It will consist of three parts:
a) the sporting event: the reasons for the choice and brief description (max. 2 pages);
b) the newsworthiness of the event: the principles of press release (max. 1 page);

c) the news release itself, which is the text to be sent to newspapers  (minimum: half-folder, max.: 1 page).
The press release should be delivered within 10 days before the exam to:

giovanna.russo6@ unibo.it; The teacher can send it back with comments to improve it.

Teaching methods

Face-to-face lessons, and case studies supported by the new technologies of communications.

Assessment methods

The student will acquire the credits (UFC) passing a written test.

Students AMB degree:

The written exam will be about the topics of about 2 books (minimum program) or more books (enlarged program), chosen by the student between the above listed books.

 The test will be composed by 3 topics (minimum program) or 4 topics (enlarged program). The expanded program gives the chance to get a bonus.

Time: 30' for the minimum program: 40' for the enlarged program.

Students MAMS degree:

The written exam will be about the topics of about 2 books (minimum program) or more books (enlarged program), chosen by the student between the above listed books.

 The test will be composed by 4 topics (minimum program) or 5 topics (enlarged program). The expanded program gives the chance to get a bonus.

Time: 30' for the minimum program + 40' for the enlarged program.

 2 important info.s about  your examination (for all students)

a)                           in order to be admitted to the exam: You had to be present at minimum to the 70% of the lessons. Presences under this minimum may be integrated by studying a book more than the minimum program (a third book, chosen between the listed ones). No presence at all, or a presence less than 6 hours, don't allow to gain the Uec.s, so that the student cannot be admit to the exam.

b)                          In order to be registered to the roll-call:  You had to insert your name in the electronic list for the exam within the 5th day before the fixed date (you can have access to the e-list in the AlmaEsami website, at the url: https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm).

Note for Students enrolled AMB

NB: It is strongly recommended to take the exam in General Sociology and Communication before taking one in Sports Journalism: the preparation will be optimal and also the vote, probably, will be better. Please, be careful that the grades received in Sports Journalism will not be recorded in the student's career (i.e., written online in “Alma Esami”), until you will pass the examination of General Sociology and Communication.

 Note for Student enrolled in MAMS

NB: It is strongly recommended to take the exam in Sociology of sport and communication before taking one in Sports Journalism : the preparation will be optimal and also the vote, probably, will be better. Please, be careful that the grades received in Sports Journalism will not be recorded in the student's career (i.e., written online in “Alma Esami”), until you will pass the examination of General Sociology and Communication.

 

Teaching tools

Content slides, produced by Power Point. 

Surfing the Internet.

Workshops with experts.

Research outcomes, published by SportComLab-Sport Communication Laboratory,  University of Bologna '"Alma Mater Studiorum" – see at:  http://www.sportcomlab.it .

Links to further information

http://Per informazioni, esempi di elaborati e tesi di laurea, Guida dello studente di Scienze Motorie, ecc., si veda: http://www.sportcomlab.it

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Martelli

See the website of Giovanna Russo