[Commlist] Special issue CFP. Sports Communication and AI from Organizational Perspectives: Transforming Culture, Practices, and Ethical Standards

You are warmly invited to submit papers to a Special Issue of the 
Journal of Global Sport Management

“Sports Communication and AI from Organizational Perspectives: 
Transforming Culture, Practices, and Ethical Standards”

Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping communication practices across 
the sport industry. Recent advancements demonstrate AI’s expanding 
influence in sports media, journalism, management, and fan engagement 
(Sadri et al., 2025). These developments challenge long‑standing 
assumptions about how sport organizations and sports media outlets 
communicate, make decisions, and interact with diverse stakeholder groups.

AI-enabled systems are transforming organizational communication by 
enhancing efficiency, optimizing information flow, supporting strategic 
listening, and improving employee experiences (Xu & Baghaei, 2025). Yet, 
the accelerating integration of AI also introduces significant 
challenges. Concerns over data privacy, digital surveillance, and 
algorithmic bias are increasingly prominent among fans, athletes, and 
employees (Yue et al., 2024). At the organizational level, the financial 
and structural demands of AI adoption create disparities in access and 
capacity, especially for small and mid‑sized sport entities.

As digital and computational tools permeate all spheres of sport 
communication—including public relations, journalism, media production, 
and online consumer engagement—sport organizations must navigate new 
ethical, managerial, and cultural questions (Chun & Kang, 2025). This 
special issue invites scholars to critically examine how AI is 
transforming communication processes, organizational structures, and 
stakeholder relationships within sporting contexts.

We welcome conceptual, empirical, methodological, and case‑based 
contributions that advance understanding of AI’s organizational 
implications for sport communication. Topics may include, but are not 
limited to: AI-driven communication strategies, ethical and governance 
issues, organizational change and innovation, fan interaction and 
consumer behavior, global variations in AI adoption, and future 
scenarios for AI in sport communication.

Scope and Themes

This special issue seeks to examine how artificial intelligence is 
reshaping the practices, ethics, and future directions of sports 
communication. We welcome theoretical, empirical, and methodological 
contributions that critically address both the opportunities and 
challenges associated with AI integration in this field.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

•AI-generated media content and press relations
•Chatbots and automated fan engagement
•VR/AR applications in event and training communication
•AI-enhanced crisis communication and risk management
•Organizational changes in communication departments or newsrooms driven 
by AI
•Bias in AI-generated sport narratives
•Data privacy and the surveillance of athletes
•Transparency and authenticity in AI-generated content
•Labor displacement within communication roles
•Regional and systemic differences in AI adoption
•Future scenarios for AI-mediated communication in sport
•Implications for global commercialization and fan cultures

The following questions may also guide prospective submissions:
•How are sport managers and decision-makers adapting to AI-driven 
transformations in organizational communication?
•What ethical considerations emerge for sports media organizations using AI?
•How might media centers at upcoming mega-sport events utilize AI to 
manage information flow and operations?
•How do sport organizations and leagues perceive and invest in AI 
technologies for media production?
•In what ways are communicative practices evolving through the 
implementation of AI across the sport industry?
•What new challenges and professional dilemmas arise for sport 
communication practitioners who adopt—or resist—AI tools?
•How might sport teams and organizations use AI to communicate with fans 
and broader audiences?
•How could AI assist sport leagues and organizations in managing their 
online image during times of crisis?


Submission Guidelines

Submitted manuscripts should not exceed 8,000 words, including 
references, tables, figures, and appendices. All submissions must adhere 
to the American Psychological Association (APA), 7th edition citation 
and formatting guidelines.

Submissions should be made via the journal’s ScholarOne online 
submission system.

When submitting your manuscript through the journal’s online submission 
system, please select the special issue titled “Sports Communication and 
AI from Organizational Perspectives: Transforming Culture, Practices, 
and Ethical Standards” from the submission options to ensure proper 
consideration for this issue.

Questions related to the special issue may be directed to the guest 
editors at the below emails.

The Journal of Global Sport Management (JGSM), published by Taylor & 
Francis, supports Green Open Access at no cost. Authors can deposit 
their accepted manuscript in an institutional or subject repository 
following the publisher’s standard embargo period, with no APC required.
For those wishing to make their article immediately and fully open 
access, JGSM also offers a Gold Open Access option:

Gold Open Access APC (2026):
$3,625 / £2,855 / €3,340

This hybrid model allows authors to choose the open access route that 
best suits their needs and funding circumstances.

Editorial Information

•Special Issue Guest Editor: Mahdi Latififard, Department of Sports 
sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran ((mahdilatififard /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(mahdilatififard /at/ gmail.com)>)
•Special Issue Guest Editor: Sean R. Sadri, Department of Journalism & 
Creative Media, The University of Alabama, USA ((srsadri /at/ ua.edu) 
<mailto:(srsadri /at/ ua.edu)>)
•Special Issue Guest Editor: Daniel Jackson, Department of Media and 
Communication, Bournemouth University, UK ((jacksond /at/ bournemouth.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(jacksond /at/ bournemouth.ac.uk)>)


References
Canavilhas, J. (2022). Artificial intelligence and journalism: Current 
situation and expectations in the Portuguese sports media. Journalism 
and Media, 3(3), 510-520.
Chun, Y., & Kang, P. (2025). Artificial intelligence in sports and 
recreation. Technology, Sport and Recreation.
Sadri, S. R., Payne, J. L., Brown, K. A., & Billings, A. C. (2025). 
Sports news and the artificial-intelligence-generated article: Examining 
identity and the influence of human versus artificial-intelligence 
authorship on perceptions of credibility and online share Likelihood. 
International Journal of Sport Communication, 1(aop), 1-15.
Xu, T., & Baghaei, S. (2025). Reshaping the future of sports with 
artificial intelligence: Challenges and opportunities in performance 
enhancement, fan engagement, and strategic decision-making. Engineering 
Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 142, 109912.
Yue, C. A., Men, L. R., Mitson, R., Davis, D. Z., & Zhou, A. (2024). 
Artificial intelligence for internal communication: Strategies, 
challenges, and implications. Public Relations Review, 50(5), 102515.




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