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Reinforcing Racial Stereotypes in Media: Content Analysis of Athlete Descriptions in College Basketball and College Football AnnouncingWilliam Benson
Communications, Media, & Rhetoric Senior Seminar
University of Minnesota, Morris
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Outline
• Introduction – Rationale• Literature Review• Research Questions• Theoretical Connection• Methodology
• Coding Categories and Player Descriptor examples
• Results• Discussion
• Limitations – Future Research
• References
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Topic Rationale
• Passion for Sports Media
• Two polar racial stereotypes: African-Americans have innate athletic skill and Caucasian athletes are more intelligent
• Modern racism – Power of Media• 2003: Donovan McNabb – Rush Limbaugh comments
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Literature Review
• Denham, B. E., Billings, A. C., & Halone, K. K. (2002) • Race in Broadcast Commentary case study of the 2000 NCAA
Men and Women’s Final Four
• Billings, A. (2004) • “Depicting the Quarterback in Black and White” content analysis
• Mercurio, E., & Filak, V. F. (2010) • Framing of Black and White Quarterback Prospects prior to the
NFL Draft
• Calvert, S. (2014)• Racial Discrimination Rhetoric in USA Today
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Research Questions
• RQ1: When discussing athletes in on-air broadcast commentary in terms of cerebral and physical abilities, how are Caucasian athletes portrayed?
• RQ2: When discussing athletes in on-air broadcast commentary in terms of cerebral and physical abilities, how are African-American athletes portrayed?
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Theoretical Framework:
Cultivation Theory – George Gerbner
• Public hears announcers discussing players gradually influencing the audience in small ways over time. Relates to relevancy of this research as mediated effects of stereotypes carried down over time influence announcers subconsciously.
http://deanzamasscommspring2011.blogspot.com
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Methodology• Content analysis of on-air commentary from October 2014 - March 2015
• Units of Analysis: 10 College Basketball games & 10 College Football games
• Variables: Race (African-American and Caucasian) • Only in-game commentary of network-employed individuals
• Discourse from players, coaches, fans not included
• Race Determination – Eye test / Internet research• Examined each player description for any word or phrase that illustrated athleticism, intelligence, or effort
• Five coding categories• 10% random check of coding
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Coding Categories - Examples
I. Positive Physical Attributes
“He’s got a huge arm” Bryce Petty – Baylor QB
“His energy, his physicality, his athleticism are all off the charts”Montrezl Harrell – Louisville PF
Gocards.com
Baylorbears.com
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Coding Categories - Examples
II. Positive Mental Attributes
“Shot preparation is excellent” Bryce Alford – UCLA PG
“Able to block out a lot of distractions” Jameis Winston – FSU QB
seminoles.com
Uclabruins.com
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Coding Categories - Examples
III. Negative Physical Attributes
“Certainly not the biggest kid on the floor” Josh Adams – Wyoming PG
“Not the most physical dominant pass protector” Jay Ajayi – BSU RB
broncosports.com
Gowyo.com
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Coding Categories - Examples
IV. Negative Mental Attributes
“Made some mistakes in his reads and decision making” CJ Brown – Maryland QB
“Struggled with confidence sophomore year” Anthony Clemmons – Iowa PG
hawkeyesports.com
Baylorbears.com
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Coding Categories - Examples
V. Effort (Determination/Intangibles) Attributes
“Battled through adversity all year long” Cole Stoudt – Clemson QB
“You got a couple junkyard dog types on the floor” Trey McDonald – OSU C
Ohiostatebuckeyes.com
Clemsontigers.com
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Results
Race +PHYS +MENTAL -PHYS -MENTAL EFFORT
BLACK(N=87)
49.4%(N=43)
21.8%(N=19)
3.4%(N=3)
8.0%(N=7)
17.2%(N=15)
WHITE(N=51)
25.5%(N=13)
45.1%(N=23)
5.9%(N=3)
9.8%(N=5)
13.7%(N=7)
Basketball: (N=138)
Football: (N=200)Race +PHYS +MENTAL -PHYS -MENTAL EFFORT
BLACK(N=120)
60.0%(N=72)
16.6%(N=20)
5.8%(N=7)
7.5%(N=9)
10.0%(N=12)
WHITE(N=80)
25.0%(N=20)
40.0%(N=32)
6.3%(N=5)
7.5%(N=6)
21.3%(N=17)
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Combined Results (N=338)
Race +PHYS +MENTAL -PHYS -MENTAL EFFORT
BLACK(N=207)
55.5%(N=115)
18.8%(N=39)
4.8%(N=10)
7.7%(N=16)
13.1%(N=27)
WHITE(N=131)
25.2%(N=33)
42.0%(N=55)
6.1%(N=8)
8.4%(N=11)
18.3%(N=24)
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Discussion• Positive Attribute Descriptors
• + PHYSICAL: African Americans > 2X %
• + MENTAL: Caucasians > 2X %
• Negative Attribute Descriptors • (4% - 9% for both races)
• Effort Attribute Descriptors • (13% - 19% for both races)
blog.drstankovich.comwww.basicbloganomics.com
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Discussion• Limitations:
• Independent coder of data – my discretion
• Unequal representation of different races in NCAA
• Negative descriptor’s uncommon in college sports
• Player descriptors can fit multiple categories
• Future Research Opportunities:
• Explore multiple media platforms – print, magazine, TV shows, social
media
• Analyze coaches dialogue or media’s descriptors of coaches
• Different sports, races, or competition levels
• Other live commentary – Radio, Podcasts
In summary…
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References• Berke, L. H. (2011). The Future of Media Professions in Sports Organizations. JMM: The International Journal On Media Management, 13(3), 215-218. Retrieved from
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.morris.umn.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6e25d1d7-4803-4a1a-943f-2828890bc25d%40sessionmgr113&vid=16&hid=102.• • Billings, A. (2004). Depicting the Quarterback in Black and White: A Content Analysis of College and Professional Football Broadcast Commentary. Howard Journal Of
Communications, 15(4), 201-210. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.morris.umn.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4899cc84-a4f1-43d8-95ac-9a811c82dd4a%40sessionmgr4001&vid=8&hid=4214
• Buffington, D., & Fraley, T. (2008). Skill in Black and White: Negotiating Media Images of Race in a Sporting Context. Journal Of Communication Inquiry, 32(3), 292-310. Retrieved from http://daveknot.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/media-images-of-race-in-a-sporting-context.pdf
• Calvert, Sam. (2014). Racial Discrimination Rhetoric in USA Today, 3(60-66). Retrieved from https://www.elon.edu/docs/eweb/academics/communications/research/vol3no1/07CalvertEJSpring12.pdf.
• • Denham, B. E., Billings, A. C., & Halone, K. K. (2002). Differential Accounts of Race in Broadcast Commentary of the 2000 NCAA Men and Women’s Final Four Basketball
Tournaments. Sociology of Sport, 19(3). Retrieved from http://hk.humankinetics.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/eJournalMedia/pdfs/5163.pdf.• • Gaines, Cork. (2012). These 20 Programs are the Biggest Money Makers in College Sports. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/these-20-college-sports-programs-are-
the-biggest-moneymakers-2012-1
• Harrison, C. Keith, Lawrence, M. Suzanne, Bukstein, J. Scott. (2011). White College Students’ Explanations of White (and Black) Athletic Performance: A Qualitative Investigation of White College Students. Sociology of Sport Journal, 18(347-361). Retrieved from http://www.bus.ucf.edu/faculty/sbukstein/file.axd?file=2012%2F6%2FSSJ+Published+Version+-+White+College+Students’+Explanations+of+White+(and+Black)+Athletic+Performance-+A+Qualitative+Investigation+of+White+College+Students.pdf
• Hartmann, Douglas (2007). Rush Limbaugh, Donovan McNabb, and “A Little Social Concern”. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. 31(45-60). Retrieved from http://www19.homepage.villanova.edu/karyn.hollis/prof_academic/Courses/2043_pop/Scanned%20Articles/Rush%20Limbaugh%20vs%20Donavan%20McNabb.pdf
• Jackson, D. Z. (1989, January 22). Calling the plays in black and white: Will today’s Superbowl be Black brawn vs. White brains? Boston Globe, p. A25.
• MacArthur, Paul, Angelini, James, Billings, A. C., & March, Alexis. (2014). Parallel Lines of Commentary? The NBC Broadcast Network’s Primetime Depiction of male Gymnasts at the 2012 Olympic Games, 16(73-84). Retrieved from www.fsp.uni-lj.si/mma_bin.php?id...
• • Mercurio, E., & Filak, V. F. (2010). Roughing the Passer: The Framing of Black and White Quarterbacks Prior to the NFL Draft. Howard Journal Of Communications, 21(1). Retrieved
from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.morris.umn.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6b451c95-fe21-40ec-ada3-666a548cc489%40sessionmgr4005&vid=13&hid=4109• • Rada, J. (1996). Color blind-sided: Racial bias in network television's coverage of professional football games. The Howard Journal of Communications, 7: 231–240.• • Silva, C.A., Votre, S.J. (2012). Racist Discourse Of The Brazilian Sports Media At The World Cups, 7(1-20). Retrieved from http://www.uff.br/esportesociedade/pdf/es2001.pdf.
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Thank you!
•Questions?