Joining the Team: Metajournalistic Discourse, Paradigm Repair, the Athletic and Sports Journalism Practice

ABSTRACT

Utilizing textual analysis, this article examines the metajournalistic discourse inherent in The Athletic’s “why I enlisted” columns. Through this type of study, it is possible to begin to understand how actors within the field of sports journalism delineate and navigate the boundaries of the profession. This study found that providing time for stories, valuing experience and conducting focused audience engagement are inside the boundaries, while rushed stories, a subpar user experience and overall market-driven practices should sit outside—though they do not at most organization. These findings are then discussed with an eye toward understanding the future of normative journalism, and acknowledging how new media sites can actually strengthen and not weaken boundaries.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital journalism
• sports communication
• media sociology
• journalism practice
• textual analysis
• boundaries of journalism

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).