The Political Game of Football

The Political Game of Football

The Political Game of Football: How Sports and Politics are Alike in Journalism

Sports and politics are two American pastimes with no lack of enthusiastic participants. When it comes to the world of sports, politics is never hard to find. In this report I will explain how sports and politics are alike in journalism. First I will examine how, on the radio, it may be difficult to tell whether you are listening to sports talk radio or politically fueled radio. Also I will explain how today you can also find more political personalities investing in sports organization. Lastly, I will demonstrate how some sports journalists are converting to political journalists.
When you listen to sports radio today it is hard to determine whether someone is listening to sports talk or political views. It all depends on the tone and the context of the voices being used. Both the sports radio journalist and political radio journalist have a tendency to raise their voices. At times it even sounds like the host of the show may be yelling at certain listeners that call in. Radio personalities often raise their voices in order to demonstrate power and emphasize a point. Some journalists, sports and political alike, have even resorted to name calling when debating different views with listeners. The terms used are quite different, but in both sports and politics the intended effect is the same. When a radio host does not agree with a caller’s opinion, the host may refer to him or her as a “homer[i]”. Typically this is done in an insulting way to upset the caller. The political radio host takes a very similar approach, yet he or she will refer to his/her caller as a “left wing liberal[ii]” (democrat) or “right wing conservative[iii]” (republican). Both of these terms are used to get the caller and other listeners all fired-up!
Political journalists are quickly intersecting the worlds of sports and politics alike; using the basics of politics to own and...

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