Having discussed how sport personalities are portrayed by media provide five recommendations on how these challenges can be addressed
1. Promote Positive Representation: Media should take a responsible approach when representing sports personalities. Positive role models should be showcased, highlighting their contribution to the community and their achievements in the sport. This will encourage young people to look up to them as role models and motivate them to follow in their footsteps.
2. Balanced Reporting: Media should ensure that their reporting is based on facts and not rumours. Journalists should verify all information before publishing it and should handle sensitive situations with sensitivity. The media should also highlight both the positive and negative aspects of the sports personality's life to create a more balanced portrayal.
3. Encourage Open Communication: Media should encourage sports personalities to engage in open communication with reporters. This can be achieved by conducting interviews that allow for honest dialogue between the journalist and the athlete. This can help build trust and create a more positive portrayal of the athlete.
4. Promote Diversity: Media should promote diversity by showcasing a range of sports personalities from a variety of backgrounds. This will help create a more inclusive portrayal of athletes and encourage young people from diverse backgrounds to participate in sports.
5. Provide Professional Development: Media organizations should invest in the professional development of their reporters to ensure that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to effectively report on sports personalities. This will help prevent reporters from using biased reporting and instead provide a fair and balanced portrayal of athletes.