Review of "Sports media: Transformation, integration, consumption" published in Journal of Communication

(Originally published 9/1/11)

The August issue of Journal of Communication includes my review of Andy Billings' new edited volume, Sports media: Transformation, integration, consumption. If you're interested in sports media, this is an excellent collection of theory and research, including chapters from my dissertation advisor, Penn State's Marie Hardin, and my thesis advisor, Florida State's Arthur A. Raney.

Here's a selection from the review outlining the text:

Sports Media’s 12 chapters are composed of papers from a 2010 Broadcast Educators Association symposium by the same title. Six are invited works (mostly essays) from researchers and theorists with considerable contributions to the “mediasport” (Wenner, 1998) research agenda. The subsequent four chapters are empirical and interpretive pieces competitively selected for the symposium. Billings’ introductory and concluding essays bookend the text, with the latter providing reflection on and direction for sports media research. Finally, the text’s appendix is an instant ‘must-have’ research tool for sports media scholars and those seeking to understand the research area: an 18-page, single-spaced bibliography titled, “Contributions to sports media scholarship: A comprehensive reference list.” This appendix illustrates the research agenda’s quantitative volume; the text’s selections highlight its qualitative depth and rigor.