B5387 - Sports and Media (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on the historical relation between sport and media from the end of the 19th century to the present. At the end of the course students are expected to: - have a clear frame work of the history of sports journalism; - develop an in-depth knowledge of the evolution of mass media and sports communication in Italy and globally; - are able to analyze both the transformations that the mass media have generated in the various sports disciplines and how the success of sport has favored innovations at a media level; - are able to understand the political and social implications of sports communication.

Course contents

The introductory lectures will provide students with basic knowledge of the history of sports and sports communication. Then, the focus will shift to analyze how sports communication has evolved in recent years in the digital age by examining various media, processes, and actors. Some lectures will feature professionals from the field.
Finally, we will discuss how different media outlets respond when political and social messages are conveyed through sports. Through analyzing specific case studies (not only from the past, but also related to current events), students will reflect on how cultural, identity, class, gender, and climate issues are conveyed by media dealing with sports.

Readings/Bibliography

Luca Bifulco, Alessandro Formisano, Giancarlo Panico, Mario Tirino, Sport e comunicazione nell'era digitale. Media, processi, attori, Franco Angeli, 2025.

For not attending students also one between:

- Pippo Russo, Filippide al pit stop.Performance e spettacolo nello sport post-moderno, Editpress, 2018

- Mario Tirino, Pippo Russo, Simona Castellano (a cura di), L’atleta digitale. Pratiche, narrazioni, scenari, Editpress, 2024.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Assessment methods

Oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Sbetti