A Summer Country’s Coverage of a Winter Event: Australian Nationalistic Broadcast Focus of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games

Abstract

<jats:p> Broadcast commentary of sport programs often is seen as biased for the “home team.” This study sought to determine differences between how the media framed narratives of Australian and non-Australian Olympians by analyzing prime-time coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games across all of Australia’s Seven Network channels. Because Australia is not a traditional powerhouse at the Winter Games, how the media portrays home team and foreign athletes is of interest in this summer sport country. Results revealed that overall, non-Australian athletes were covered and mentioned more frequently than Australian athletes. However, results found taxonomical differences in Seven Network’s depiction of Australian and non-Australian athletes’ successes—Australian success was attributed to athletic ability and courage, whereas non-Australians’ success was more frequently linked to intelligence, experience, and consonance. Differences in the attribution of failure by nationality were also found, with Australian’s failures more likely to be characterized by a lack of commitment and luck compared to their non-Australian counterparts. Athletes’ personalities also were described differently, with Australians receiving comments regarding their emotions, while non-Australians received either more neutral comments or had their appearance and body parts described more often. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are provided. </jats:p>

On the “Basketball Africa League”: Framing Analysis of the Broadcast Commentary of an African Professional Basketball League

“…While scholars have examined the framing of sporting events by western media predominately from the Global North (Angelini et al, 2017; Liçen & Billings, 2013; Scott et al, 2020), there has been limited research which examines the African perspective from the Global South (Cooky et al, 2013; Nauright & Magdalinski, 2003; Onuwumechili, 2009, 2014; Waliaula, 2012) and no known existing study examining the media framing of an international African professional sports league. Research pertaining to domestic sport leagues with international rosters has covered sports in multiple countries in situations including international competition as well as the effects of roster rules.…”

“…Previous literature has examined how commentators discuss athletes based on the athletes’ nationalities (e.g., Angelini et al, 2017; Billlings & Eastman, 2003; Nauright & Magdalinski, 2003; Scott et al, 2020; Xu & Billings, 2020), gender (e.g., Billings, 2008; Cooky et al, 2013; Eastman & Billings, 2001; Liçen & Billings, 2013) and race (e.g., Bruce, 2004; Eastman & Billings, 2001; Nauright & Magdalinski, 2003; Rada & Wulfemeyer, 2005; Walton & Butryn, 2006). As the BAL consists of athletes from across the African continent, the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia, there may potentially be national or regional biases (e.g.…”

“…Scholars have utilized framing theory to understand how the media portrays athletes’ race, nationality, ethnicity, and gender. These elements can introduce bias to their audience based on not just what is shown, but on how media show it (Angelini et al, 2017; Billlings & Eastman, 2003; Li et al, 2016; Scott et al, 2020).…”

Covering the Home Nation at Its Home Games: An Analysis of Australian Nationalistic Broadcast Coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games

“…Despite Australia’s limited medal success at Rio, viewers might have been primed to think that Australia was more successful than it was, because of the sheer volume of name mentions of their country’s people. However, the results of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics found that Australians only made up seven of the top-20 most-mentioned athletes; yet, four of the top-10 and the top-2 most-mentioned athletes were from Australia (Scott et al, 2020). While the statistics-driven studies of Australian broadcasters are in their infancy, there are signs that Australian broadcaster of the Olympic Games favor the home nation.…”

“…For national broadcasters, they attempt to use nationalized symbols or languages to emphasize the connection between these athletes, audiences, and the country (Billings et al, 2019). The dichotomy of an “us versus them” narrative has frequently been highlighted in broadcast coverage of major events to encourage viewers to support their nations and their athletes (Scott et al, 2020).…”