The relationships between midwestern sportswriters and their primary sources during the Big Eight era: A multi-case study

In Media, Sports and Society, Lawrence Wenner (1989) concluded that every person in America, whether a sports fan or not, is influenced to some degree by the communication of sports culture. This study furthers knowledge about sports reporters and their crucial role as a link in the chain between sports and society so this information can be incorporated by journalism educators as they prepare students for careers in sports reporting. Educators must be able to help their students recognize the potential demands and rewards of work as sports journalists.;The significant changes which have impacted how sportswriters do their jobs is information that can only be obtained from the writers themselves. Four retired Midwestern sportswriters participated in in-depth interviews examining the relationships between sportswriters and coaches and athletes. Eight additional sportswriters responded to brief written surveys, and one sports information director and two former Big Eight head coaches responded to the results. Their input was sought to triangulate the data and to provide insight into the perspectives of other parties involved in the relationships between sportswriters and coaches and athletes.;This study attempted to answer the questions: Did the relationships between Midwestern sportswriters and their primary sources---coaches and athletes---change during the Big Eight era? If so, how and why did the relationships change?;This study concluded that during the past 40 years, the relationships between sportswriters and their primary sources, coaches and athletes, have grown more distant. A variety of factors have affected the source-reporter relationships in sports journalism. They include: (1) Improved travel; (2) Increased media competition and increased numbers of media professionals; (3) Television; (4) Change in the perception of mutual need in the symbiotic relationships between sportswriters and their sources; (5) Social changes created by Watergate and Title IX; (6) Development of the miniature taper recorder; (7) Development of sports information offices; (8) Education and training of prospective sports journalists; (9) Lack of understanding regarding how newspapers work on the part of sources and fans.;Of particular importance to educators is understanding how changes in relationships between sportswriters and coaches and athletes have affected sportswriting and what this means to students coming into the field.