Using self-categorization theory to uncover the framing of the 2015 Rugby World Cup: A cross-cultural comparison of three nations' newspapers. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scott, Olan Kees Martin; Billings, Andrew C; Harris, John; Vincent, John
• Is Part Of: International review for the sociology of sport. Volume 53:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 997
• Page End: 1015
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Framing -- rugby union -- Rugby World Cup -- self-categorization theory -- sport media; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 306.48305
• DOI: 10.1177/1012690217697476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1012-6902

Abstract

Research into the framing of sporting events has been extensively studied to uncover newspaper bias in the coverage of global sporting events. Through discourse, the media attempt to capture, build, and maintain audiences for the duration of sporting events through the use of multiple narratives and/or storylines. Little research has looked at the ways in which the same event is reported across different nations, and media representations of the Rugby World Cup have rarely featured in discussions of the framing of sport events. The present study highlights the different ways in which rugby union is portrayed across the three leading Southern Hemisphere nations in the sport. It also shows the prominence of nationalistic discourse across those nations and importance of self-categorizations in newspaper narratives.