Playing the Right Way: In-House Sports Reporters and Media Ethics as Boundary Work

Promotional Space or Public Forum: Protest Coverage and Reader Response in Team-Operated Media

“…As such, we end up with a complicated case for examining how these boundaries are being negotiated. In-house reporters reject the idea that they are doing public relations, yet their routines of production mean they produce relatively friendly content to the players (Mirer, 2019). The symbols of independence such as interactive content like mailbags are in use.…”

“…As they replicate news coverage, teams choose to employ experienced journalists to produce their content. Many who have moved into in-house reporting came from newsrooms and reject claims they have left journalism behind (Bolen, 2012; Hammond, 2009; Jenkins, 2000; Libit, 2011; Mirer, 2019). In-house reporters are finding recognition in the broader profession, moving from team to traditional outlets and accessing privileges like award voting that journalistic organizations previously reserved for themselves (Coleman, 2015; Hoffarth, 2012).…”

“…Mirer (2019) argues this reflects the success of in-house reporters’ boundary work. They have articulated new definitions of the profession that make it harder to exclude reporters who lack traditional journalistic independence.…”

“…Research on protest coverage by independent media only takes us so far. In-house reporters speak to a team-centered audience that may have divergent political views but also must serve the organization’s communicative goals rather than orient themselves toward public service (Friedland et al, 2007; Mirer, 2019). Previous work on in-house reporting and social protest found in-house reporters for NFL and National Basketball Association (NBA) teams used their claims about journalistic identity to explain coverage choices, even if the outcomes were divergent (Mirer, 2018).…”

Towards a “Digital” Sports Journalism: Field Theory, Changing Boundaries and Evolving Technologies

“…Yet the influence of these forces doesn't mean that shared understandings of news practice don't exist or that journalists have given up their authority to their audience (Hutchins & Boyle, 2017) The perception of insurgents (e.g., bloggers, team media) has certainly forced sports journalists to deploy boundaries to secure their professional identity. As Mirer (2019) argues, sports journalists deploy boundaries of their doxa-in articulation of professional ethics. These journalists argue their work reflects "adhering to standards of truth and maintaining a personal independence" (Mirer, 2019, p. 9).…”