The Role Of Print Media Communication In Sports Development

There have been no previous studies done on this subject area.  But it is hoped that reference would be made to a number of researcher carried out in other places that have similar themes.

According to Michael Clark, Director local Government Training Board, Elliott Medway in leisure services year book 1989/90, the role of the print media in sports was so unhidden that even today, the society has been conscientious through the value and significant of communication.

The Newspaper and Magazine have brought every information relating to sports close to our door steps and this placed the society at advantage.   Many sporting events including football have gone scientific in actual practice only because certain basic electronic printing equipment were used to publicize it.  

The important observation by the new Encyclopaedia Britannica on the role of print media in sports is that print medium make the athletics  or sportman and woman to become as markable as the sports they play.

“Thanks to Newspaper and Magazine etc exposure, athlete have become as marketable as the sports they play”. Now some players, Nigerian’s Daniel Amokachi perhaps being the prime example, make as much money through promotions and business income as they do playing games.

Dr. Judy White, Centre for Urban and Regional studies, school of public policy, University Birmingham says “No sports sees the light of the day unless print media plays an identifiable or unidentifiable role” what he refers here is that without the help of print media sports cannot take place.  Because, it is through this medium that you can send communication across to decoders or the readers of sports news story.

Encyclopaedia Britannica 11 page 112 has it that the development of sports was as a result of the increasing urbanization of society i.e. the emergence of towns with relatively stable population.  Also the Tie breakers for terms set have been adopted to the same reason.

According to the new standard Encyclopaedia SMA volume 14, Newspaper made sports more popular than ever before.  According to it, sports experienced a tremendous growth during the 2oth century.  Professional team came into prominence, and woman began to participate in a wide variety of sports.  In U.S. by mid –Century increased leisure and time and the impact of Newspaper and magazine made sports more popular than ever before.

On whether there is any alternative to print media communication in sports development, Dr Judy White had the opportunity to delve into this issue when he says “No sports sees the light of the day unless communication plays on identifiable or unidentifiable role” this simply shows that although there was little or no effect on routine activities, people did feel generally uneasy and out “out of touch with the world” in the absence of print media communication in sports.

However, the role of print media communication in sport development cannot be said to be in its entirely positive.  According to the Edition published by William Benton and Helen Heingway Benton “Newspaper and Magazine etc on sports have not been entirely beneficial”.  Over exposure almost killed professional boxing minor league baseball in U.S. dried up when Newspaper and magazine permitted the organisation of regular sports and schedules.   And thereby the need of communicating to the complex society.

It is no coincidence that the most successful recent major sports development in Nigeria came through the print media communicating.  Promoting sportsman and woman performance, fostering a commitment to an activity in it’s own right and promoting the opportunity and desire for improved competitive results.   In other words, this means assisting those who want to get better at what they do.  Promoting excellence involves assisting those who wish to reach the pinnacle of sporting performance at either regional or national level and international levels.  William Benton and Helen Heingway Benton in the New Encyclopaedia Britannica volume 17, 15th Edition has a good example of the role of print media in sports. According to them, in U.S. there were only 24 professional sports franchise in 1960, mostly in the North –east quadrant of the county. The exposure created instant interest elsewhere and by 1970 there were 87 franchise throughout the nation.

They had it that the games themselves are affected by commercial time outs,  which have the potential to affect “Momentum” and scores. Once universally condemned, the commercials are now widely ignored.  Even the formats of important sports events have been altered to suit the convenience of Newspaper and Magazine.  Games have been played at unusual hour to accommodate prime time publication.  According to Benton and Benton, the U.S. Professional Golfere Association tournament was switched from it’s long tradition of man-to-man play to 27-hole medal competition due print media expansion usurped its crowds and income.

This simply means that over exposure can kill or kill sports stars.