Why is sport important? What impact does sport have on society? This course is designed to introduce students to the academic study of sport and its place in society and the media. It will consider a range of sporting issues such as race, nationalism, commercialisation of sport, sport fandom, gender, and sports celebrity. There will be opportunities to engage in these issues to get the most out of studying sport and the media, and to build the skills needed to think about reporting on sport in terms of target audiences and potential places for publication.

·       Demonstrate and understand the main issues surrounding sport.

·       Be able to explore, analyse and discuss the role the media has in shaping these issues.

·       Demonstrate the ability to apply practical research skills in identifying these topics. 

·       Develop ways of writing and communicating to different audiences. 

This course consists of nine units. Each unit comprises a 2-hour face-to-face session between 7pm and 9pm weekdays. These sessions will include lectures, class discussions and debates, pair-work and group-work, source analysis activities and exercises to develop your academic skills. There will also be a strong emphasis on learning outside of the classroom, facilitated by the university’s Virtual learning Environment, Learning Central.

• The ability to communicate ideas and arguments effectively, whether in class discussion or in written form.
• The ability to work effectively with others in groups and to learn collaboratively through discussion and interaction.
• The ability to think critically, analyse sources, evaluate arguments, and challenge assumptions.
• The ability to formulate and justify their own arguments and conclusions and present appropriate supporting evidence.
• The ability to locate relevant resources in the library and online and use them appropriately in academic work.
• The ability to use a range of information technology resources to assist with information retrieval and assignment presentation.
• The ability to independently organise study methods, manage time effectively, and prioritise workload to meet deadlines.

1. Sport and Society

This session will introduce the history of sport and its influences and place in society.

1. Sport and the Media

This session will explore the value and important place of sport to the mainstream media.

1. Nationalism in Sport

This session will consider how nationalism is expressed in relation to sport, and examine how nationalism affects media coverage of sport.

1. The Commercialisation of Sport

This session will consider the impacts of increased money in sport, and what this has had on sports consumption.

1. Sports Fandom

This session will outline how sports fans engage with their favourite teams and sports, from hooliganism to video games.

1. Sporting Celebrity

This session will examine sports celebrity and the shaping of sports stars as celebrities through their image.

1. The Governance of Sport

This session looks at how the ruling bodies of athletics and football express their influence and power over sport and society.

1. Sport and Gender

This session will demonstrate how gender differences manifest themselves in media coverage and permeate through the culture of certain sports.

1. Race in Sport

This session will explore the representation of different races in sport and look at the issues which this raises.

Essential Reading:

Boyle, R. and Haynes, R. (2009) Power Play: Sport, the Media and Popular Culture. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Coakley, J (2001) Sport in Society: Issues and Controversies. New York: McGraw Hill.

Farrington, N. et al (eds). (2012) Race, Racism and Sports Journalism. Abingdon: Routledge.

Hassan, D and Hamil, S (eds) (2012) Who Owns Football?: Models of Football Governance and Management in International Sport. London: Routledge.

Rowe, D. (ed) (2004) Critical Readings: Sport, Culture and the Media. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Steen, R. (2007) Sports Journalism: a multi-media primer. London: Routledge.