Topic 3: The Tasks and Functions of Sports Journalism

Communication:

Informs us; (delivers operational and non-operational information)

Educates us; (teaches, guides)

Entertains us; (recreation)

Relaxes us; (relaxation)

Persuades us; (agitation, manipulation)

Connects us to the wider world; (communication)

Different individuals, groups, societies (whether open or closed), and even entire countries
(authoritarian or democratic) use mass communication and its carriers (such as newspapers, TV, etc.) for
different purposes.

According to the classical view, mass communication primarily performs four functions:

1. Spreading knowledge about reality;

2. Social regulation;

3. Disseminating culture and moral values;

4. Entertainment.

However, modern communication theorists, when discussing these functions, usually base their
arguments on the famous “Bride Report” prepared by UNESCO. This report outlines the following 8
functions of mass communication:

1. Informing (news reporting): Collecting and disseminating news, analysis, opinions, and commentary to
logically understand personal, public, and international events, and to make necessary decisions.

2. Socialization: Creating a shared news environment, exchanging ideas, and establishing an appropriate
intellectual climate that enables every individual to connect with their society.

3. Stimulation and attraction: Identifying the desires and goals of each individual and society and
aligning them toward common ground.
4. Discussion (public debate) and creating a dialogue environment: Enhancing understanding between
parties and accelerating the resolution of societal problems, expanding polemics and idea exchanges to
ensure social development.

5. Education: Promoting the development of general pluralistic thinking and worldview within society, as
well as fostering individual knowledge and skills at every stage of life.

6. Promoting cultural development: Creating opportunities for creative use to protect the heritage of the
past and foster continuity in culture and art.

7. Entertainment: Promoting arts such as cinema, theater, literature, music, etc., that enrich human
spirit through images, symbols, and sounds, and disseminating knowledge about sports and games.

8. Instilling a sense of togetherness: Providing everyone with the necessary information to help people
recognize each other, foster mutual understanding, and appreciate differences.

One of the duties of communication is to help people who live in the same country but come from
different ethnic backgrounds and cultures to live together in a peaceful and understanding manner. In
the influence of more developed socio-economic and cultural societies on less developed groups and
communities, communication plays a significant role. In developed societies, the living conditions,
income, education system, healthcare services, and so on serve as role models for communities living
under harsh social conditions. In such backward communities, the lack of mass communication leads to
an environment of ignorance, corruption spreads, there is no dialogue or understanding between social
groups, and relationships are based on violence, force, and accusations. Typically, in such countries, the
journalism system also fails to develop, with no traces of independent press, freedom of speech, or
freedom of thought.

In my opinion, based on old literature, the three main functions of mass communication and journalism
can be distinguished:

1. Information – simply providing information or analyzing and delivering results.

2. Education – informing, teaching.

3. Entertainment (recreation, relaxation) – relaxing (active or passive). All other functions can find their
place within these three functions. MM.

Currently, the study of the history, theory, and practice of sports journalism is very limited, and in
Azerbaijan, it is practically non-existent.

Sports journalism is a branch of journalism. Its subject is modern sports. Modern sports cover a wide
range of topics, and depending on the sport that sports journalism focuses on, its goals, duties,
functions, forms, and specific characteristics can vary.

The goal of sports journalism can also be considered on a global scale. For example, wars are the result
of conflicts. Conflicts are the result of imperfection, which arises from the manifestation of negative
emotions. Sports media aims to reduce stress by replacing concerns in sports with those in other fields.
Therefore, interest in sports is created and developed, leading to the formation of a harmoniously
developed personality.

Sports journalism is a field that combines sports and journalism.

The duties of sports journalism:

1. To provide objective information to the audience about all events in the world of sports.

2. To form positive public opinion about sports through the publicization of humanist ideas and values.

3. To increase people's sports knowledge and apply progressive ideas in sports activities by creating an
exchange between theoretical and practical sports achievements.

4. To actively participate in sports management and organizing sports events of various objectives and
levels.

Sports journalism has numerous functions. Most of these functions are based on the functions of sports
itself: competition, culture, politics, education, training, integration, management, etc. It also
incorporates the functions of journalism. It should be noted that the functions of sports journalism can
also be attributed to other fields of journalism.

Standard functions of sports journalism:

1. Information function – Research shows that approximately 60-80% of journalistic materials in the
sports field fall under this category. Through information, results of competitions, preparation
processes, awards, athletes' activities, etc., are delivered. While this function is more general and
comprehensive, in sports journalism, the information function differs from other journalism fields
because the characteristic of competition, which separates sports from physical education, is also
reflected here.

2. Propaganda and promotion function – This includes promoting sports, the importance of physical
education for human physical and cultural development, the significance of national athletes winning
international competitions and representing the country properly, supporting athletes, and being a fan,
etc. (promotion – political influence).

3. Organizational function – Sports journalism also carries the function of organizing various
competitions and events, such as mass running races.

4. Self-expression and public opinion formation function – This function is related to the propaganda and
organizational functions. Humanist ideas are promoted, and positive public opinion about sports is
formed. This leads to the development of sports.

5. Advertising function – This function is closely tied to the subject it reflects. In major sports, high-level
athletes are considered "sports stars," and thus, with their victories, they not only promote the sport,
the type of sport, or the sports lifestyle but also the country they belong to, the country where the event
is held, the company that sponsored sports equipment, as well as the watch they wear, the water they
drink, the headphones they use, etc. Sports journalism takes advantage of this to influence public
opinion.

6. Educational function – This function is aimed at shaping necessary qualities and habits in the
audience. The educational function is responsible for enhancing culture, particularly physical culture.
The media’s educational function is implemented through the demonstration of both positive and
negative examples in sports. For instance, the victories of hardworking, purposeful athletes and fair
behavior in sports serve against laziness, rudeness, cowardice, and selfishness.

Furthermore, unfortunately, in a time when there is such a low inclination towards education among
young people, sports information is almost the only field that consistently remains within their interest,
is read, watched, and freely analyzed. Therefore, sports journalists are also burdened with the moral
responsibility of educating and enlightening society.

In addition to the educational function of sports journalism, it is also necessary to mention its
informative function. By delivering specialized information, sports journalism acts as a "mass coach,"
trying to convey the benefits of sports in terms of physical education, providing scientific mass advice,
and recommending physical activities based on verified and modern methods.

Aesthetic function – The display of healthy, beautiful, strong, and attractive people leads to the
introduction of the image of physical beauty into public consciousness. The depiction of well-built
athletes in magazines, on screen, and in cultural works not only forms aesthetic taste in people but also
somewhat dictates the path to achieving an ideal body. Physical education, as physical culture, is an
integral part of general culture. For instance, in ancient times, special importance was placed on the
development of this cultural field because the ancient Greeks and Romans did not fully consider
someone with an unattractive body as cultured.

Management function – In any field, management is based on three foundations: information,

organization, and decision-making. By providing the public with regular information, it directs them to
make specific decisions in that field. In the sports world, information is continuous and periodic, so there
is no shortage of information in this area.

Worldview development function – For example, one can learn about the geography of the locations
where world competitions are held. Along with the description of the countries where the competitions
are held, information about the culture of those countries or cities can also be obtained.

Entertainment (recreation) function – This function serves to create a positive mood in the audience and
allows them to temporarily escape from problems and daily difficulties. Two functions that can
specifically be attributed to sports journalism fall under this category: escapism and emotional release
(relief).
1. Escapism – Sports journalism creates a world different from everyday life. In this world, beautiful and
strong people clarify their relationships in a fair and just competition. Here, people support their favorite
athletes and national teams, living through their heroes' successes, and unlike real life, they often
achieve great victories.

2. Emotional release (relief) – This is based on the emotional release of a person without danger to
society. Thus, a person vents their positive and, mainly, negative emotions not into real life, but into the
field of sports (yelling, celebrating, cursing, expressing anger, etc.), and finds relief.

Let's say that in sports journalism, the dominant function among the three classic functions of
journalism—informing, educating, and recreation (recreation-entertainment, relaxation)—is the last
one. This means that the audience primarily seeks to enjoy their time, rest, and gain spiritual satisfaction
by watching sports events. Let’s define who the audience for mass communication in sports is.

First and foremost, a large percentage of the sports media audience consists of active and passive fans.
An active fan is someone who regularly follows a particular sport, supports their favorite athlete or
team, and keeps track of events. A passive fan, on the other hand, is someone who occasionally
dedicates time to sports and sports information. Additionally, it is important to note that this audience
includes people who are directly involved in sports or have some connection to it, such as athletes,
coaches, sports journalists, and others working in the field of sports.

The escapism and emotional release functions mentioned above are not equally applicable to the entire
sports media audience. For example, inactive fans are ready to accept the positive energy received from
sports information. Such fans are typically those who are interested in sports information in their spare
time. They feel happy when they hear positive news and, even if only for a short time, if they can escape
their daily problems. In contrast, they either avoid hearing negative news (turning off the television or
radio, not reading the news in full, etc.), or they quickly forget it, as it does not take deep root in their
hearts.

For active fans and people directly involved in sports (athletes, coaches, etc.), sports become an integral
part of their lives. For some, the world around them becomes an obstacle between them and sports.
These people mainly obtain sports information from mass media. For them, sports news that they
consider “negative or positive” becomes a matter of great importance, affecting their emotional state
and sometimes leading to great joy, or conversely, deep sadness or even aggression. For example, if a
beloved football team's victory causes fans to celebrate in the streets, the aggressive actions of fans
who damage property or fight with other fans, or the sorrow caused by a loss, demonstrates that sports
information also carries a stress function.

Escapism (from English "escape" - to flee, to distance oneself) refers to people’s, and society’s, tendency
to distance themselves from reality and immerse in an illusionary, fantasy world. Escapism is a mental
escape from the unpleasant circumstances of everyday life through entertainment and relaxation. It
arises as a response to psychological trauma or stress acquired during stressful work periods. The goal of
escapism is to distance people from the troubles of daily life. Components of a healthy life (eating,
sleeping, sports, etc.) can serve as means of escapism. During escapism, people detach from social
realities and imagine the world as they wish. Sigmund Freud considered fantasies that distance people
from reality to be an essential element in their lives, stating that "they cannot exist in the meager
pleasures that real life offers." According to Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963), escapism can serve to
strengthen and enrich one’s imagination. Writer John Tolkien viewed escapism as a transition from
reality to a “second (imaginary) world.”

Emotion is related to the fulfillment of human physical needs. It determines the state of an organism
and the biological significance of external stimuli. Emotions are considered the sensory foundation of
human experience. They enrich interactions with the external world and society, adding dynamism to
memories.

The question "What is emotion?" has been answered in various ways by science. William James defines
emotion as an "attempt" to feel. According to P.K. Anokhin, "emotions have a vivid subjective expression
as the organism’s physiological state and encompass all of a person’s feelings and experiences." S.Z.
Rubinstein views emotions as manifestations of the subject's condition and attitude toward an object.

Summarizing various psychologists' interpretations, it can be concluded that in most cases, emotions are
understood as experiences related to one’s relationship with something or someone in the present
moment. Research on emotions places special emphasis on studying the expressive component. The
main expressive means of emotions are speech, facial expressions, pantomime, gestures, and
vocalization.

Schlosberg’s scale of facial expressions consists of six main categories:

1. Love, joy, happiness

2. Surprise

3. Suffering, fear

4. Determination, anger

5. Disgust

Emotion is a simpler feeling, primarily related to the fulfillment of basic needs, such as food, fresh air,
water, etc. This is why emotions can also be observed in animals.

Supporters of the discrete model of the emotional field classify emotions into primary and secondary
emotions. Paul Ekman lists six primary emotions: anger, fear, disgust, surprise, sadness, and joy. In
Robert Plutchik’s classification, each of four pairs of emotions is associated with a specific action:

Anger (attack, destruction) – Fear (defense)

Approval (acceptance) – Disgust (rejection)

Joy (exhilaration, motivation) – Disappointment (sorrow, deprivation)

Anticipation (investigation) – Surprise (direction)

K. Izard defines ten basic emotions: anger, disgust, hatred, suffering, fear, guilt, interest, joy, shame, and
surprise.

Emotions can vary in terms of their onset speed, intensity, and duration, and are often referred to as a
person’s emotional state. Let’s consider a few of these: moods, affects, stress, and frustration. Moods
gradually develop, have moderate intensity, and last for a significant period. A pleasant news item heard
in the morning may result in a cheerful and positive mood throughout the day. Affects are emotions that
arise quickly, are intense, and relatively short-lived. Affects involve an emotional process characterized
by a loss of voluntary control. In this state, a person becomes overwhelmed by feelings of fear, anger, or
other strong emotions.