Perceptions of Faculty of Sport Sciences Students regarding the relationship between sports and media

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the perceptions of students studying at the Faculty of Sport Sciences regarding the relationship between sports and media. The study has a phenomenological design, a type of qualitative research design. The sample group consisted of seven students studying in the Department of Sports Management at Ondokuz Mayıs University, determined with convenience sampling, a type of purposeful sampling method. Data collection process was carried out through e-mail. The data were analysed with content analysis method by using Nvivo program. The results showed the following: the students mostly followed media through telephone or the internet; the students thought that all sports branches should be covered in the media, while specifically football and male athletes were covered; and they thought that media was a factor triggering violence. Moreover, it was found that media has positive effects such as making sports generalised, being unified in national team games, knowing about the developments in the world instantly and getting information about sports, athletes, sports branches, etc. To conclude, it should not be ignored that not just football, the other sports branches should be covered equally in the media and the achievements of female athletes should not be overlooked.