| Sports Journalism is often called the "toy department" of the news organization, an indication that it is not taken seriously as a field of study. In fact, sports journalism gets negligible attention from academics, and the press box, the "sacred space" where sports journalists gather to be professional observers, gets even less mention academically. Much of our general knowledge about the press boxes comes from interpretations from other media, especially movie makers. This thesis draws on ethnographic field work from press boxes at university sports events to show the culture and climate of sports journalists. Despite efforts to promote racial and gender equity, most press boxes are still dominated by a hegemonic culture of white males. This thesis finds that what some consider the "sacred space" might need to undergo an evolution in order to be considered valid and relevant into the future. |
