Reporting the 2014 World Cup: football first and social issues last

Abstract

Delays and infrastructure problems appeared as key issues in numerous media reports on the preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. This paper analyses to what extent the media coverage of this period helped to overshadow serious existent social issues, such as poverty and violence, and how this has meant the privilege of FIFA’s narratives over these issues. A frame analysis shows that while the FIFA is quoted as a major source of the news on the event, a stereotyped portrait of Brazil has been constantly offered. As far as as protests led by ordinary citizens and social movements have appeared as disruptors of the tournament’s safety. This case yet illustrates not only the priority given to commercial interests in the news, but the necessary debate around the media coverage of global events, in which the media are expected to side with international bodies, as local voices remain marginalized.

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank Professor Eugene McLaughlin for some fruitful discussions on the British Press during the first phase of this project.

Notes

1. The Guardian published in December 2013 the cost of £6.000 lb and 13.000 miles for a countrywide trip. Available at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/04/world-cup-2014-fans-england. Accessed on July 4, 2013.

2. http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jun/08/social-media-winner-world-cup-advertising. Accessed on July 4, 2014.

3. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/29/sports/worldcup/a-new-york-odyssey-through-world-cup-fandom.html. Accessed on July 4, 2014.

4. According to this report, public funds in Brazil have subsidized stadia and infrastructure only used for the event. Available at http://stadiumdb.com/news/2014/07/report_how_much_did_brazil_spend_on_world_cup_stadiums. Accessed on July 4, 2014.

5. FIFA’s official website has a sub-section named as ‘Development’ in which the organization lists many of its activities related to bona fide causes, including, but not limited to, gender inclusion, racism and education.

6. The protest was motivated by the World Cup, but other groups gathered at the site for numerous other reasons. However, images of these groups were used by the global media to illustrate World Cup anger. More information on this is available at http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2014/05/1461052-indio-fere-pm-com-flechada-em-ato-anti-copa-em-brasilia.shtml. Accessed on July 4, 2014.

7. As reported by a Datafolha Survey, available at http://datafolha.folha.uol.com.br/opiniaopublica/2014/06/1467905-51-dos-brasileiros-aprovam-realizacao-da-copa-no-brasil.shtml. Accessed on July 12, 2015.

8. According to ‘FIFA Sustainability Plan’, it has avowed objectives that involve social programmes and poverty reduction. Available at http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/loc/01/65/19/25/sustainability_strategy_e_web.pdf. Accessed on July 13, 2015.