MMC3703 Exam 1 2023 with verified qustions and answers

Sports Media Functions -News -Broadcast event -Storytelling -Opinion/Analysis -Entertainment Sports Media Basics -Platforms -Issues -News Values Platforms -How you consume information (TV, radio, web) -Before: Separate entities - Now: Multi-functional brands -Newspaper: original form of disseminating info. Before: game stories, TV of print, news, analysis and opinion - Now: Analysis and opinion, enterprise, magazine-style, news -Radio: Before: play-by-play, analysis - Now: play-by-play, talk, fan voice, entertainment -TV: Before: games, local news/highlights, weekly shows - Now: everything = games, highlights, opinion, analysis, news -Magazine: Before: recaps, looking forward/back, depth - Now: depth, originality, art, commemorative. Shows that people who play sports are human too. Jimmy Valvano - "Don't ever give up." Gary Smith - writer ("GOAT" of sports writing), goal was to share what it's like to be a human in sports -Photo -Books: Insider depth POV -All Things Digital: websites, podcasts, blogs, apps/mobile, user boards, media/fan hybrid sites, social, serves all functions (game, highlights, analysis, opinion, depth, interactivity), "Everything" media brand (Ex: ESPN channel, web, radio, etc) -Team Media: Before: stats function, liason between team and media - Now: Own media of all forms (news, function) with POV and access. Players Tribune. The Athletic: moving towards subscription based site -In a blended world... platform is how to best deliver messages, audience is who is it and what do they want, and constituency is who are the stakeholders The Media Basics: Rules and Principles -First Amendment: freedom of speech, press, religion -Press Rights and Restrictions: Libel=false statements of fact that cause harm or damage to a person, Malice=(reckless disregard for truth) must be proven with public figures, Opinions are generally protected, and ONLY DEFENSE TO LIBEL = Truth! Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 1: No Cheering in Press Box -Be unbiased -Ex) Boise State Statue of Liberty Play = shifting nature in college football, Boise was seen as not a big team but ended up winning against Oklahoma in Tostitos Bowl; Pete Thamel, member of New York Times, need to root for a story not a team -Ex) Olympics = British broadcasters stood and applauded after heptathlon where British athletes won; Mongolian journalists danced in aisles of bleachers; Lolo Jones in Olympics came out as being a virgin before the Olympics and was compared to Kournikova references by NYTimes and when on Today Show to do a rebuttal. Should a US entity like NYTimes criticize their U.S. athletes especially in that matter right before the Olympics. Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 2: Get it right, keep it in context -Urban Meyer ripped into Orlando Sentinel writer Jeremy Fowler for writing an article about one of his players -Urban's POV: he's a great kid why nitpick what he did in the game, would you want someone to do that to/write things about you in that manner Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 3: Respect off the record Changing rule -Must say "off the record" before you say something, if you say it after you said something it's still fair game for journalists Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 4: Show up the next day Changing rule -Must have the courage to take the flak from coaches, players, etc because they don't like your stories or reports and still show up to practices or games to do your job the next day -Jim Rome vs Jim Everett Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 5: Break out of the pack or stay a part of it? Changing rule -Branch out and get different info but can be a challenge -Channing Crowder: Chasing hogs to train; Jeff Darlington went up to Crowder and asked directly. UAA was mad at Darlington because he contacted Crowder without teams consent. Crowder was placed under gag order, once it was lifted, Crowder had an escort during interviews. -Pack mentality makes reporter's worse, all thinking and reporting the same thing Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 6: Get the story? Get the attention? Get the money? Changing rule -What lengths will you go to get the story or attention for what you're reporting on -Is it really worth the attention or money -Should you focus on these three aspects when trying to do your job and report Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 7: Neutrality vs Point of View Changing rule -Can sports media stay neutral? -Should they have to? Era of Blurry Lines - Rule 8: Respect privacy? Changing rule -Jenn Sterger and Brett Farve -Farve sends Sterger nudes, Deadspin said it was a public interest story -When to keep things private or public: once it becomes workplace harassment issue then public media groups covered the story Era of Blurry Lines - The Conflict -Media Industry: Getting "Good Stuff" (original material) vs Sports Industry: protecting message/brand Sports Media Background: How Media Decides What To Cover -The media is: sensational, negative, blows things out of proportion because it might be a slow news day, tries to create controversy, and audience + news values (checks and balances system) Sports Media Background: How Media Decides What To Cover: Audience -Determines what you cover, how to cover it -Geography: local - world -Interest: location based also based on research, stats, and analytics -Does media drive popularity or does popularity drive media? Sports Media Background: How Media Decides What To Cover: News Values -What is news? New or noteworthy info, change -Characteristics that determine whether (and how) media organizations cover something -more ART than science - 1) Timeliness: breaking news - 2) Proximity: local, national, international - 3) Prominence: how prominent is the info to your area - 4) Impact: what if... UF football announces no change in ticket prices versus UF softball announces will charge $10 per game (which would be announced) - 5) Uniqueness: how special or unique is the news - 6) Scale: championship playoff regular season game - 7) Conflict: arrests, accidents, injuries, breaking rules, gender inequality, ex) women's soccer replay on news - referred to as "girls fighting" and "girls" even though it's collegiate level and should be considered women - 8) Human Interest: emotion, drama - 9) Sensationalism Sports Media Background: How Media Decides What To Cover: Factor -News values of one story are in context of news values of other stories (ex: timing, "slow news day") -Because presentation of news is usually linear, media tells us what is important LeBron: The Decision(s) -Made decision to go back to Cleveland thru Sports Illustrated -LeBron James Career: Cleveland , Miami , Cleveland 2014-current LeBron: The Decision(s) - How is news released? -Timing/news values -Want more attention announce things on light news days -Don't want attention, announce things on a heavy news day -Sometimes there's no consideration to other stories when news is "broken" LeBron: The Decision(s) - Pre-Decision 2010 -Free Agent -LBJ (Cavaliers) announces he'll make an announcement regarding free agency in hour-long special on ESPN -LBJ approaches ESPN says he'll donate $ to charity LeBron: The Decision(s) - The Decision -Jim Gray, freelancer, reportedly paid by LeBron team, not ESPN; Gray denies, says 100% unethical to be paid by interviewee; made small stipend for expenses -In ESPN book, says hour-long show was Gray's idea *red flag in journalism circles -One of the most-watched cable networks in the U.S., LA Times said ESPN would turn over a premium program spot to one of its most aggressively covered stars for his announcement -Central ESPN Conflict: journalism/news versus programming and church/state argument -Executives anticipate the "decision" will be announced early in show which would allow time for analysis -But they didn't start Jim Gray's questionnaire portion until about 20 minutes in to show -Warm-up questions before big question(s) is asked to build drama -July 8th - decision gets high ratings (just under 10 million homes); highest rated studio show in history -The teams involved were informed "on-air" according to Gray -Richard Deitsch, from Sports Illustrated called the show: insane and extended foreplay leading to the decision on air -ESPYS: Paul Rudd and Steve Carell making fun of "The Decision" -Brings up suspicion w/ESPN and truth behind what they say -ESPN Ombudsman (**A REPRESENTATIVE THAT LOOKS INTO COMPLAINTS AND TRIES TO JUSTIFY DECISIONS FAIRLY**) said that viewers want to believe the network is treating them respectfully, openly, fairly and honestly -ESPN sent reporter to private club in Las Vegas and reported on LeBron like a fly on the wall -ESPN alter took down a quote from LeBron that was said in the club as it didn't represent LeBron in positive light. They later came back and said they took it down not because of LeBron but because their reporter didn't go about getting the quote and info the right way. LeBron: The Decision(s) - The Decision 2.0 -Exclusive "I'm Coming Home" article in Sports Illustrated by Lee Jenkins -People criticized Sports Illustrated for turning their pages over to LeBron -Some media issues: the coming home article was supposed to be a first-person account but Lee Jenkins wrote it as a ghost writer. Questions of who really said what. Jenkins said "they were all his [meaning LeBron] words. I just sewed them together." LeBron: The Decision(s) - Take Home Thoughts -Overall, judged not on the intent but the execution and outcome of announcement -Competitive environment for media = decisions based $ which blurs lines of media role Skype Call with Jeff Darlington -Has worked for ESPN, NFL Network, Reporter for Miami Herald -He was flying to Houston to cover the Texans cancelling their game and wants to see Harvey devastation -1 year anniversary with ESPN -Tip: stay down the middle, be as unbiased as can be. Be open about that, means less criticism -Wrote Channing Crowder story: broke "rules" and talked to Crowder about hog chasing training. Coach was mad and the other reporters were mad because it affected the way they report on a team/player -Don't go sensational route just to get noticed -**BOUGHT AN INFINITY G35 WHEN HE GOT HIS JOB AT THE ORLANDO SENTINEL** -**INTERVIEWED DON SHULA (FORMER NFL DOLPHINS COACH) ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY - SAT ON BACK LENAI FOR 3 HOURS** The Story -Narrative: describes sequence of events; as opposed to explanatory, analysis, informative reports. Elements include scenes, characters, destination (plot and conflict) -Scientific American: why does our brain seem to be weird to enjoy stories? (Universal among humans) -Jeremy Hsu: "stories have a unique power to persuade and motivate, because they appeal to our emotions and capacity for empathy." -Every game is a narrative: beginning, end, characters, plot, climatic moment, outside game = other narratives -Narrative themes: 1) Human vs Human: man vs man, woman vs woman, team vs team 2) Good vs Evil: all about perspective and view you have 3) Man vs self: internal conflict, ex) Lance Armstrong 4) Man vs nature 5) Boy meets girl (Love story): The Blind Side - doesn't always have to be romantic can be family love 6) David vs Goliath: hero falls, hero discovered, underdog 7) Back against wall: overcome adversity 8) Rags to riches 9) The Misfit Makes It: ex) Rudy -Narrative themes center around: the quest (destination: win-loss, but journey = emotion), powerful stories have elements of many = ESPN Documentary Carry On 3rd and 5 Topic Debate -Topic 1) ESPN still faces tough balance with college football gambling coverage: should they cover point spread and gambling or just talk about the game and players; Debate: are you condoning gambling just by talking about the spread? Implicitly? OR Sports should be about sports, not gambling -Topic 2) Are you interested in an O.J. Simpson interview?: should you try and get an interview with a high-profile person who has served his time or not?; Debate: Yes for $, if you don't go for it someone else will OR but, it's more of a sensational story vs news -Topic 3) Pete Rose reportedly out at FOX after sexual misconduct allegation (with underage girl during the 70s): Also, FOX Sports President defends Michael Vick now becoming an announcer, calls it "the right thing to do"; Debate: Is FOX hypocritical or right for their decisions? Do you place value on crimes they've done in past? -Topic 4) Ex-ESPN football analyst Ed Cunningham quit because he was uncomfortable promoting a dangerous sport: what is the media's responsibility in covering an issue like this? Should he instead donate $ for research to improve safety measures? -Topic 5) Phillies Utility Man, Pedro Florimon suffers awful-looking injury lunging for first base: How much should media outlets cover bad injuries, is there a line/when or where is that line? Especially on live TV, what's too gruesome?; Debate: we are a nosy-culture, people are going to want to know what happened and want to see it as well -Topic 6: Get ready to see 6-second ads during NFL games on FOX: smart or dumb business? 6-sec ads will most likely air in dull moments -Topic 7: Kevin Harlan's done calling fans who run on the field, even after Tonight Show invite: should broadcasters show it, acknowledge it, or ignore fans/streakers running on the field? The John Rocker Story -High energy, love to have him on your team/hate him if on opposite team, free/hate speech, racial remarks -Kenny Powers character from East Bound and Down is based on Rocker, makes blunt, racial remarks -Story in 1999 about Rocker came out: Jeff Pearlman assigned the story for SI, angle was "bad guy on field, good guy off". During playoff run, lots of reporters around, Pearlman contacted Rocker's family, friends, etc for story. When Yankees swept Braves in World Series, the piece never ran. Editor asked Pearlman to freshen up the story in off-season -Story: "At Full Blast," SI release it on December 23rd, 1999. In the story, there was a quote about how he hates foreigners and New York -Fallout: People against Rocker: Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton condemn Rocker, Hank Aaron said he was "sickened", MLB suspends Rocker for spring training and part of regular season, Arbitrator cuts from 28 days of regular season suspension to 14 days and fine from $20,000 to $500, teammates expect him to learn lesson, manage anger; People against Pearlman: players chewed him out, refused to talk to him, Media director for Dodgers told him not to come in clubhouse -Rocker's statement: said he lost his cool and said things he didn't mean about NY fans because he wants to "inflict some emotional pain for his hatred of NY -Six months later: SI needs someone to cover Yankees-Braves - Pearlman volunteers -Pearlman's career: writer for ESPN, SI, "Pearls of Wisdom" column, etc. -Pearlman about Rocker: "I don't think there's anything wrong with knowing that a person's flawed" -Rocker's career: traded in 2000, out of MLB by 2003, developed line of "Speak English" shirts, went of the reality show "Survivor" with girlfriend - told woman on the other team, "if you were a man, I'd knock you're teeth out right now" Skype Call with Jeff Pearlman -Drove around with Rocker for 6+ hours, never argued with him or encouraged what he said -As a reporter, you need to LISTEN! Unfiltered conversation -Always pay for lunch; don't owe anything to them or the interviewee -Pick and choose what you include in story -Went into Rocker Interview with idea of what to write, but normally we as journalists SHOULD NOT DO THIS! Be open minded! -Huge issue with public figures, is getting them to open up to you -Talk and interview everyone for a story! -**Did a story on Bryce Dejean Jones - a basketball player who died in a twist of events on night in Dallas (went to visit girlfriend but banged on wrong door, the person who lived in the place had a gun and shot through the door killing Jones)** -**Pearlman's dog is named Norma**