Purpose
The purpose of this interactive course is to educate the future generation of sports journalism. Toxic sensationalism is a huge problem in collegiate athletics and I believe the big issue with that is the lack of awareness on the effects of toxic comments, posts, and reports on athletes who are just playing a sport they love.
01
Overhyping or "Rat Poison"
Nick Saban, head coach of the University of Alabama’s football program and one of the most successful coaches in college sports history, has publicly criticized the media’s influence on collegiate athletics. Referred metaphorically as “rat poison” by Saban, he describes how media narratives can foster validation among players by promoting an unrealistic sense of security after high-profile wins. Saban argues that excessive media praise can reduce athlete motivation and effort, contributing to declines in team performance.
02
Racism
Angel Reese, a standout player for Louisiana State University (LSU), became a lightning rod for media controversy during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. After her team’s victory, Reese made a celebratory gesture that quickly became the focal point of the media. Rather than focusing on her athletic excellence, numerous news outlets and commentators framed the gesture as unsportsmanlike and provocative, fueling a divisive narrative.
03
Sexism
Women collegiate sports get one of the worst reputations in sports just because of their sex. People see them as in inferior to men and not entertaining to watch. When the NCAA ran an AI-based monitoring system it flagged over 72,000 messages that were threatening towards student-athletes. The data was skewed towards women by around 3 times the volume compared to men.
04
CRITICISM
Participating in collegiate sports is a significant achievement that requires dedication, discipline, and immense physical and mental effort. Student-athletes balance rigorous academic schedules alongside intense training and competition. These players are young they are going to make mistakes in a high-stakes game. The media can sometimes spread salt on the wound by bashing a player. This is very prominent on social media and the fans make it seem like the player just doesn't care, but in reality they care more than anybody.