[Commlist] Journalism and Sport Symposium: Call for Papers

The Journalism and Sport Symposium will take place on Friday 15 January 
2027 at the MediaCity campus of the University of Salford.

Format: In person for all presentations
Deadline for submissions: Friday 30 October 2026
Decisions: Friday 13 November 2026
 Sports journalism is important. Reporters, commentators and content 
creators are an increasingly central part of our media diet, narrating 
events large and small to viewers, listeners, readers, followers and 
subscribers. Yet the playing field is constantly changing. Evolving 
technologies, financial pressures in legacy journalism, the rise of 
in-house media, shifting boundaries in sport-media relations, 
discrimination, sportswashing, fan and athlete-created content and the 
use of generative AI are among critical issues putting sports journalism 
under pressure. The University of Salford is hosting a one-day symposium 
to explore the past, present and future of sports journalism in this 
context.

Proposals are sought for individual papers (up to 15 minutes) or themed 
panels made up of 2-4 presentations, from anyone who has original 
research into sports journalism which they would like to share. 
Presentations are welcomed from early career researchers, PGRs, 
independent researchers, journalists and other non-academics. It is 
intended to produce an edited book collection of research presented.

This symposium is held on an important anniversary. It will take place 
100 years to the day since the first live commentary of a sporting 
occasion on BBC radio, of England v Wales in rugby union’s Five Nations 
Championship. There’s no better time to consider how sports journalism 
has evolved and the opportunities and challenges it now faces.

The symposium is being organised by Dr Richard Jones, Director of Media, 
Film, Journalism, Politics and History at the University of Salford. It 
will also serve as the formal launch of his new monograph, Sports 
Journalism in the UK, which is published in October 2026 by Routledge. 
The book makes a critical intervention into debates about sport, 
journalism and the broader media industries in the UK, and reveals new 
insights into the working practices of sports media professionals: 
https://www.routledge.com/Sports-Journalism-in-the-UK/Jones/p/book/9781041170518

Presentations and panels could address one or more of the following 
suggested topics and themes, although all proposals are welcomed and 
will be considered.

The term ‘sports journalism’ is interpreted broadly, and can include 
broadcasting, commentary, content creation and journalistic work in 
other media formats.
-	The role of sports journalism -	Working practices of sports journalists
-	Sports journalism content and formats
-	The use of AI in sports journalism
-	Legacy players in sports journalism, such as television, radio, 
magazines and newspapers
-	Sports journalism podcasts
-	Emerging platforms, brands and channels in sports journalism
-	Alternative and fan media
-	Fantasy sport, e-sports, gambling and other sport-adjacent content
-	Discrimination and inequality in sports journalism
-	Sports journalists’ use of social media
-	Freelancing and precarious sports journalism work
-	Sports journalism since the pandemic, including remote working
-	Ethics and sports journalism
-	Relationships between sports journalists and in-house media teams
-	News conferences, interviews and access to players and managers
-	The prominence of different sports within sports journalism -	The 
first 100 years of live sports broadcasting and commentary in the UK
-	Histories of sports journalism
-	Teaching sports journalism

Submissions:

If you would like to present your research, please email Richard Jones 
(R.L.Jones /at/ salford.ac.uk) with the following information by Friday 30 
October 2026:

•	Your name and the proposed title of your presentation
•	Your institutional affiliation, if any
•	A short summary of your proposal (200-300 words)
•	A short biography (up to 50 words)

---------------
The COMMLIST
---------------
This mailing list is a free service offered by Nico Carpentier. Please use it responsibly and wisely. The commlist has no responsibility for any damage caused by its postings. Subscription to the list automatically implies agreement with this rule.
--
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://commlist.org/
--
Before sending a posting request, please always read the guidelines at http://commlist.org/
--
To contact the mailing list manager:
Email: (nico.carpentier /at/ commlist.org)
URL: http://nicocarpentier.net
---------------