In the end, many teams and leagues of sports focus on specific players in order to improve fan engagement. There is a rise in specialized websites like The Athletic is an indication of this new trend.
The entertainment value should not override media coverage in sports. Important ethical codes (IFJ, Council of Europe) clearly state that comment and speculation should be avoided.
Real time Soccer Scores
For fans who are unable to go out and watch their favorite team practice, they are able to use sites that offer real-time soccer scores. These sites offer tournaments, leagues, as well as cups around the globe. They also offer live game stats, news, and fixtures. Additionally, they’re optimised for use on desktops as well as mobile gadgets.
In Germany most of the live soccer TV commentators are employed with public service broadcasters (ZDF, NDR, and WDR), RTL, and other private television channels, like Eurosport, sportdigital, and Sky. This means that they have to meet high viewer expectations. In fact, as the interviewee 3 puts it “They expect us to know everything, see every detail, and assess it correctly in a matter of seconds”.
The commentary is in an awkward position as it is supposed to educate the viewers with a journalistic style and fulfill an orientation function as well as entertain them. The resulting hybrid form of journalism is called soccer commentary. It blends the journalism of the factual report and subjective comments (Wiske 2017). The purpose of this study was to determine how soccer commentators who live broadcasts perceive the tension between journalistic as well as entertainment aspects in their work.
Enhanced Fan Engagement
Engaging fans is among the primary aspects of sports reporting and can impact a myriad of important indicators for teams and organizations. A dedicated and active fanbase could help increase ticket sales or purchases of merchandise, as well as media coverage of the team. Additionally, a positive and active fan base can build a sense and loyalty among the fans which could lead to greater brand awareness as well as a better revenue model for the business.
Increased engagement of fans in sports reporting can also be seen by the increasing popularity of soccer “fanzines,” cheaply printed magazines written by fans that skip official match broadcasts and traditional media. These publications offer a mix of both journalistic and entertainment, blurring the boundaries between entertainment and journalism. A few interviewees mention that this tendency to’soft journalism has led to lower recognition for journalism (Wiske 2017.). Other commentators have noted that it could cause a focused effort of journalists to build their personal brand.
Data Driven Analysis
The popularity of the novel “Moneyball” has sparked interest in the field of big data and analytics in sport. It is now possible to gather, store, and transfer and study large sets of data for a relatively low cost. This has resulted in new forms of analysis and an increased trust in the objectivity of data-driven decision making.
The change has a significant impact on the sports journalistic profession. The role of a journalist has changed to more than just a neutral observer of the game; it is now an essential mediator between the football fans and their club. The sports journalist is caught in financial realities (drawing large audiences with entertainment) and the pursuit of journalism (such as investigative stories). This tension has an effect on how the role of journalists in the field is viewed and carried out. Interviews with sports commentators reveal that they have a range of strategies that help them stand out from the crowd including emotional entertainers and impartial mediators. These types of commentators rely on a more traditional journalistic approach Keonhacai. The entertainment-oriented commentators aim to excite viewers through their voice, language and emotions.
Challenges of Reporting Live Sports Scores
In the same way as all aspects of journalism there are ethical concerns for sports reportage. It is important for journalists to report accurate information. Also, it is important to maintain a professional connection with sources and avoid giving in to pressure from sources to provide data that is in line with a team’s or player’s viewpoint. Journalists shouldn’t accept offers or invites to events that can influence their work.
Moreover, it is essential for sports journalists to understand the dual nature of television soccer. One side, it is factual and fulfills orienting information functions but, in contrast it is a mixture of personal commentary as well as entertaining aspects (Schaffrath 2003). Thus, sportscasters are a significant influence on the way that viewers experience live sporting events and shape their perceptions of and memories.