Having discussed how sport personalities are portrayed by the media , provide five recommendations on how these challenges can be addressed

1 answer

1. Encourage diverse representation: Media companies should strive to include more people from diverse backgrounds in their coverage of sports. This includes interviewing athletes who don't fit the typical mold of what is considered "marketable" in mainstream media, as well as hiring journalists from diverse backgrounds to report on sports.

2. Promote a positive image: It's important for media companies to focus on promoting a positive image of athletes, highlighting their achievements and accomplishments on and off the playing field. By highlighting the many positive attributes of athletes, media companies can help shift the narrative away from negative stereotypes.

3. Develop fair and balanced reporting: Journalists should be given training on how to report sports in an unbiased manner. Reports should reflect an accurate portrayal of events, and not sensationalize news or events for the sake of ratings.

4. Acknowledge the impact of social media: In the age of social media, it's important for media companies to recognize that athletes have more control over their public image than ever before. Encouraging athletes to share their own stories and perspectives can help promote transparency and authenticity, and reduce the impact of negative media coverage.

5. Promote media literacy: It's important for audiences to be able to critically evaluate the media they consume. Media literacy programs can help teach people how to navigate media coverage of sports, recognize bias and stereotypes, and understand the impact of negative portrayals of athletes.