The media is an integral part of the global sports industry and a key factor in the sports economy as it connects sports competitions with the public at large. Sports journalists have a mission to inform the public and can play a major role in revealing misbehaviour and scandals that affect sports organisations and athletes, and in promoting value-based sports governance; they should not be seen as mere communication officers of sports organisations or competitions organisers.
Sports journalism suffers from the challenges that impact independent journalism, due to the crisis of traditional media in the era of global digitalisation and the rise of social media. However, some specific characteristics of sports journalism make the challenges harder. Journalists who address critically issues within the sports family they cover are often met with disdain by their colleagues, and marginalised because they put harmony within the family at risk. The de facto monopoly status of sports organisations further serves to strengthen a culture where criticism is not allowed and sports journalists have been, and are subject to pressure, threats and retaliation measures because of their reports. This is not acceptable.
Media organisations and journalists should have proper access to sports event venues, to fulfil their role as witnesses and critical observers. While copyright and broadcasting rights impose limitations, their protection must be balanced with the freedom of information and there should not be any undue restrictions on how sports news content is created and disseminated. Sports journalists must be protected from violence, intimidation, harm, discrimination, and (self)-censorship, and they should have the right to protect the sources of their information, which, in many instances, has been jeopardised.
The Parliamentary Assembly should consider these issues and urge public authorities and sports organisations to fully guarantee media freedom and independent media reporting in the sports world.