The media covers many sports, but not all sports. It is selective in what and how it portrays sports and athletes, which has a great impact on how people understand and value sports as well as their beliefs about sports. This critical question is framed around two dot points.

The relationship between sport and the mass media

Here you will examine how sport is represented in the media and what determines the coverage sports receive.  You will have to think critically about the impact of mass media on sport and consider questions such as:

• who benefits?
• how does the media influence our understanding?
• how has the media changed sports?

Deconstructing media messages, images and amount of coverage

Building on the previous dot point you will be asked to analyse the media’s role in giving meanings to sport. you will look at the differences in coverage across print, and electronic media as well as the emergence of extreme sports as a form of entertainment.