Acta Universitatis Carolinae Kinanthropologica (AUC Kinanthropologica) is an international peer reviewed journal for the publication of research outcomes in the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences, as applied to kinathropology. It is a multidisciplinary journal accepting only original unpublished articles in English in the various sub-disciplines and related fields of kinanthropology, such as Anthropology, Anthropomotorics, Sports Pedagogy, Sociology of Sport, Philosophy of Sport, History of Sport, Physiology of Sport And Exercise, Physical Education, Applied Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Human Biomechanics, Psychology of Sport, Sports Training and Coaching, Sport Management, etc. The journal also welcomes interdisciplinary articles. The journal also includes reports of relevant activities and reviews of relevant publications.
The journal is abstracted and indexed by CNKI, DOAJ, EBSCO, ERIH PLUS, SPOLIT, SPORTDiscus, and Ulrichsweb.
AUC KINANTHROPOLOGICA, Vol 60 No 1 (2024), 19–36
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on sports – reporting in the daily newspapers of the Czech Republic
Ondřej Trunečka
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23366052.2024.2
published online: 22. 10. 2024
abstract
The Czech quality (non-tabloid) nationwide daily newspapers never published fewer sports pages during the two first decades of twenty-first century than they did during the COVID-19 pandemic. A reduction in the number of pages devoted to sports and other topics was a logical reaction to the paralysis of professional sports and many other domains of human life. But a comparison of data from the first wave of the pandemic, from March to May of 2020 with the same period in the following years proves that the trend to downsize sports sections continued in many cases. This study applied quantitative content analysis to the Monday editions of the Czech daily newspapers Hospodářské noviny, Lidové noviny, Mladá fronta Dnes, and Právo. It confirmed that the position of sport in the daily newspapers has weakened in the long term, and the pandemic accelerated the tendency, especially in the case of more specialised daily newspapers.
keywords: sports journalism; print media; lockdown; suspension of sports events; reduction of sports content
references (69)
1. Andrews, P. (2017). Sports Journalism: A Practical Introduction. London: Sage Publications.
2. Billings, A. C., Butterworth, M. L. & Turman, P. D. (2018). Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field. Los Angeles: Sage.
3. Biscomb, K. & Matheson, H. (2017). Are the times changing enough? Print media trends across four decades. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 54(3), 259-281. CrossRef
4. Bradshaw, T., & Minogue, D. (2019). Sports Journalism. The State of Play. London: Routledge. CrossRef
5. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Los Angeles: Sage.
6. Děkanovský, J. (2008). Sport, média a mýty: zlatí hoši, královna bílé stopy a další moderní hrdinové. Prague: Dokořán.
7. Edge, M. (2019). Are UK newspapers really dying? A financial analysis of newspaper publishing companies. Journal of Media Business Studies, 16(1), 19-39. CrossRef
8. Gentile, P. C., Buzzelli, N. R., Sadri, S. R. & Arth, Z. W. (2022). Sports Journalism's Uncertain Future: Navigating the Current Media Ecosystem in the Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic. Journalism Studies, 23(10), 1178-1196. CrossRef
9. Goldman, M. M. & Hedlund, D. P. (2020). Rebooting Content: Broadcasting Sports and Esports to Homes During Covid. International Journal of Sport Communication, 13(3), 370-380. CrossRef
10. Gratton, Ch. & Jones, I. (2004). Research Methods for Sports Studies. London: Routledge.
11. Grix, J., Brannagan, P. M., Grimes, H. & Neville, R. (2020). The Impact of Covid-19 on sport. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 13(1), 1-12. CrossRef
12. Hodgson, G. (2020). Newspapers. In: R. Steen, J. Novick & H. Richard (Eds.), Routledge handbook of sports journalism. London: Routledge. CrossRef
13. Horky, T. (2020). No sports, no spectators - no media, no money? The importance of spectators and broadcasting for professional sport during COVID-19. Soccer & Society, 22(1-2), 96-102. CrossRef
14. Hull, K. & Romney, M. (2020). "It Has Changed Completely": How Local Sports Broadcasters Adapted to No Sports. International Journal of Sports Communication, 13(3), 494-504. CrossRef
15. Johnson, M. R. & Woodcock, J. (2021). Work, play, and precariousness: An overview of the labour ecosystem of esports. Media, Culture & Society, 43(8), 1449-1465. CrossRef
16. Kian, E. M. & Zimmerman, M. H. (2012). The Medium of the Future: Top Sports Writers Discuss Transitioning from Newspapers to Online Journalism. International Journal of Sport Communication, 5(3), 285-304. CrossRef
17. McChesney, R. W. (1989). Media and sport: A history of sports coverage in United States. In: L. A. Wenner (Ed.), Media, Sports, & Society. Newbury Park: Sage Publications, 49-69.
18. Moritz, B. (2015). The Story Versus the Stream: Digital Media's Influence on Newspapers Sports Journalism. International Journal of Sport Communication, 8(4), 397-410. CrossRef
19. Nölleke, D., Grimmer, C. & Horky, T. (2016). News sources and followed up communication. Journalism Practice, 11(4), 1-18. CrossRef
20. OʼSullivan, J., Fortunati, L., Taipale, S. & Barnhurst, K. (2017). Innovators and innovated: Newspapers and the postdigital future beyond the "death of print". The Information Society, 33(2), 86-95. CrossRef
21. Pedersen, P. M. (2014). The changing role of sports media producer, 2014. In: A. C. Billings & M. Hardin (Eds.), Routledge handbook of sport and new media. London: Routledge, 101-110.
22. Real, M. (2006). Sports Online: The Newest Player in Mediasport. In: A. A. Raney & J. Bryant (Eds.), Handbook of Sports and Media. New York: Routledge, 171-184.
23. Sadri, S. R., Buzzelli, N. R., Gentile, P. & Billings, A. C. (2022). Sports Journalism Content When No Sports Occur: Framing Athletics Amidst the COVID-19 International Pandemic. Communication & Sport, 10(3), 493-516. CrossRef
24. Schallhorn, C. & Kunert, J. (2020). Football without Football: Creativity in German Football Coverage by TV Broadcasters and Clubs during the Coronavirus Crisis. International Journal of Sports Communication, 13(3), 514-522. CrossRef
25. Sherwood, M., Nicholson, M. (2013). Research methodologies in sport communication. In: P. M. Pedersen (Ed.), Routledge handbook of sport communication. London: Routledge, 98-110.
26. Toney, J. (2013). Sport Journalism: The Inside Track. London: Bloomsbiry.
27. Trunečka, O. (2017). Kde jsou výsledky, kde popis zápasů? Proměna sportovních rubrik v pondělních vydáních českých deníků [Where are the results and the match recaps? Transformation of sports sections in Monday editions of Czech daily newspapers]. Studia Sportiva, 11(1), 118-125. CrossRef
28. Trunečka, O. (2021). Proměny sportovních rubrik českých deníků v letech 2001 až 2015. Disertační práce. [The transformation of sports sections of Czech daily newspapers between 2001 and 2015 - Dissertation]. Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences.
29. Wanta, W. (2013). Reflections on Communication and Sport: On Reporting and Journalists. Communication & Sport, 1(1/2), 76-87. CrossRef
30. Journalistic articles
31. ČTK, 2020a: ČR má první tři případy nákazy novým koronavirem [The Czech Republic has the first three cases of infection of the new coronavirus]. ČTK, 1. 3. 2020.
32. ČTK, 2020b: Světový pohár v biatlonu bude v Novém Městě bez diváků [The Biathlon World Cup in Nové Město will be held without spectators]. ČTK, 2. 3. 2020.
33. ČTK, 2020c: Slavia remizovala se Spartou 1:1 a vede ligu už jen o osm bodů [Slavia drew with Sparta 1:1 and leads the league by eight points]. ČTK, 8. 3. 2020.
34. ČTK, 2020d: Fotbal a hokej se hrají bez diváků, soutěže jsou ohroženy [Football and hockey leagues without spectators, the future of sports competition is uncertain]. ČTK, 10. 3. 2020.
35. ČTK, 2020e: Sport v Česku se zastaví, vláda zakázala akce nad 30 osob [Sports in the Czech Republic will stop, the government forbidden all events with more than 30 people]. ČTK, 12. 3. 2020.
36. ČTK, 2020f: Sportovní dění v Česku se zastavilo, hokej nepozná mistral [Sports events in the Czech Republic have stopped, hockey league without a new champion]. ČTK, 12. 3. 2020.
37. ČTK, 2020g: Fotbalová liga se znovu rozběhla výhrou Teplic nad Libercem [Football league re-started, Teplice beaten Liberec]. ČTK, 23. 5. 2020.
38. ČTK, 2020h: Dortmund při návratu německé ligy deklasovalo Schalke [The restart of German League: Dortmund outclassed Schalke 4-0]. ČTK, 16. 5. 2020.
39. Mediaguru, 2020a: Pandemie negativně poznamenala prodeje deníků i v dubnu [The pandemic had a negative impact on the sales of newspapers again in April]. Mediaguru.cz, 8. 6. 2020.
40. Mediaguru, 2020b: ONLINE PŘENOS: Dopady koronaviru na média a marketing [ONLINE STREAM: The impact of coronavirus on the media and marketing]. Mediaguru.cz, 16. 7. 2020.
41. Mediaguru, 2021: Hospodářské noviny upravily design, změnit se má i web [Hospodářské noviny have the new design, the website should change too]. Mediaguru.cz, 1. 3. 2021.
42. Mediaguru, 2024: Mafra ukončí vydávání tištěných Lidových novin [Mafra will stop publishing the printed Lidové noviny]. Mediaguru.cz, 16. 7. 2021.
43. Newspapers
44. Hospodářské noviny. Economia.
45. Lidové noviny. Mafra.
46. Mladá fronta Dnes. Mafra.
47. Právo. Borgis.
48. Analysed articles
49. HN, 2020a: Etrych, Š. Konec tučných časů. Co pandemie provede s miliardovým fotbalovým byznysem? [The end of the generous times. What will the pandemic do to billion football business?]. Hospodářské noviny, 6. 4. 2020, 31(68), p. 16.
50. HN, 2020b: Dubský, V. Sportovci pomáhají [The athletes help]. Hospodářské noviny, 30. 3. 2020, 31(68), p. 16.
51. HN, 2020c: Káninský, J. Přichází éra digitálního sportu? [Is the era of digital sports coming?]. Hospodářské noviny, 20. 4. 2020, 31(76), p. 16.
52. LN, 2020a: Vavrda, A. Fourcade vyhrál. A pak se rozloučil [Fourcade won. And then he said goodbye]. Lidové noviny, 16. 3. 2020, 33(64), p. 15.
53. LN, 2020b: Rampa, R. Hokejový šampionát nebude [There will be no ice-hockey championship]. Lidové noviny, 23. 3. 2020, 33(70), p. 15.
54. LN, 2020c: Vavrda, A. Televize: Ať žije náš archiv [TV channels: Long live our archive]. Lidové noviny, 16. 3. 2020, 33(64), p. 14.
55. LN, 2020d: ČTK. Virtuální derby opanovala Sparta [Sparta won the virtual derby]. Lidové noviny, 11. 5. 2020, 33(108), p. 15.
56. MFD, 2020a: Macek, T. Tak odchází král [Thus the king leaves]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 16. 3. 2020, 31(64), p. 18.
57. MFD, 2020b: Čermák, D. Sám doma. Jak dlouho? [Home alone. For how long?]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 16. 3. 2020, 31(64), p. 17.
58. MFD, 2020c: Palička, J. Svatba musí počkat [The wedding has to wait]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 16. 3. 2020, 31(64), p. 17.
59. MFD, 2020d: Knap, K. Mysleli na finále [They were thinking about the final]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 23. 3. 2020, 31(70), p. 15.
60. MFD, 2020e: Knap, K. Velký závod [The big race]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 6. 4. 2020, 31(82), p. 15.
61. MFD, 2020f: Knap, K. Zrození Dominátora [The birth of Dominator]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 27. 4. 2020, 31(98), p. 15.
62. MFD, 2020g: Palička, J. Den, kdy se Velký Turín ztratil v mlze [The day when the Great Turin was lost in thick fog]. Mladá fronta Dnes, 4. 5. 2020, 31(103), p. 15.
63. Právo, 2020a: Kézr, M. Fourcade vyhrál a končí. Glóbus má Boe [Fourcade wins and leaves. Boe has the Globe]. Právo, 16. 3. 2020, 30(64), p. 23.
64. Právo, 2020b: Odoba, M. Odklad her v Tokiu si neumím představit [I can not imagine postponing the games in Toyko]. Právo, 16. 3. 2020, 30(64), p. 22.
65. Právo, 2020c: Kézr, M. Zrušení MS? Jen věc pojistky [The cancellation of World Cup? Just the question of insurrance]. Právo, 16. 3. 2020, 30(64), p. 22.
66. Právo, 2020d: Škvor, J. Obrovské zklamání. Ještě jsem věřil [Huge disappointment. I was still hoping]. Právo, 23. 3. 2020, 30(70), p. 21.
67. Právo, 2020e: Burkert, M. S Beckerem máme pořád hezké vztahy [We have still a good relationship with Becker]. Právo, 20. 4. 2020, 30(92), p. 21.
68. Právo, 2020f: Neumann, R. Dřevorubec Csaplár [Lumberjack Csaplár]. Právo, 11. 5. 2020, 30(109), p. 24.
69. Právo, 2020g: Burkert, M. Prahu oslnila zlatá hokejová záře [The golden hockey glow dazzled Prague]. Právo, 4. 5. 2020, 30(103), p. 24.
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on sports – reporting in the daily newspapers of the Czech Republic is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
157 x 230 mm
periodicity: 2 x per year
print price: 190 czk
ISSN: 1212-1428
E-ISSN: 2336-6052
