#deflategate: Sports Journalism and the Use of Image Repair Strategy on Twitter

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2018

Department

Mass Communication and Journalism

School

Communication

Abstract

This study investigated how different groups of sports journalists covered the NFL “deflategate” scandal through social media, specifically in terms of employing image repair strategies via Twitter. Image repair strategy is typically used within public relations, but its use within journalism has not been examined. A content analysis revealed that while many journalists employed objective reporting, many others engaged in a variety of repair strategies, notably minimization and stonewalling. Discussion and implications focused on two main issues: conflicts of interest between journalists and sports organizations, and the evolving role of social media in crisis coverage.

Publication Title

Newspaper Research Journal

Volume

39

Issue

1

First Page

69

Last Page

82

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS