Sports Coverage On The Block Like Everything Else

Michael Hedges August 26, 2020 Follow on Twitter

These are challenging times for news publishing. That is, obviously, an understatement. While readers have been craving more news and views about the timely events affecting their world, publishers, in many cases, have seen advertising revenue streams melt away and subscription revenues challenged by specialty publications, streaming audio and video as well as Uber Eats. Reallocating resources, business-speak for cuts and layoffs, is the main topic in that Zoom meeting with the finance department or, eventually, the shareholders.

Long immune from economic downturns, sports have been hit hard; fewer live events or fans in the stands. Advertising and sponsorships around sports have turned tepid. Negative impact on sports media and coverage has followed. Only so much can be done with greatest hits.

Big Scandinavian publisher Schibsted announced this week a plan to move major sports coverage by its various newspapers to daily Vardens Gang (VG), which will become “a kind of news agency, covering large and ongoing events,” reported journalisten.no (August 24). Schibsted newspapers - including VG, Aftenposten, Aftenbladet and Svenska Dagbladet - will continue to cover local sports. Polaris Media, publisher of several Norwegian titles, will also participate. Previously, Aftenposten subsidiary 100% Sport provided pool coverage for both Schibsted and Polaris Media titles.

“VG has an extremely competent, innovative and complete sports editorial staff,” said VG editor-in-chief Gard Steiro in a statement. “We are the meeting point for sports enthusiasts from all over the country. The new collaboration strengthens our position and provides strategic opportunities we look forward to pursuing. The agreement means, among other things, that video coverage of sports will be better in all newspapers and that local sports newsrooms can still concentrate on local sports coverage.”

Aftonbaldet and unions completed negotiations this week over a previously announced austerity plan, reported journalisten.se (August 25). Of the 33 employees affected, 8 are taking retirement and 26 settling for pay-outs. Editorial workers comprise the majority of the those leaving. "We and the members understand that Aftonbladet has been going bad for a long time," said union chairman Johan Stambro, “but one might ask whether at this point it is best to get rid of staff or do other things.”

In late July Guardian News and Media (GNM), UK publisher of the Guardian and the Observer, warned that staff reductions to sports and lifestyle coverage were imminent. Several Saturday sections would be discontinued. About 180 employees, including 70 editorial workers, would be let go.

Editors, writers and those who support their efforts composed a critical response, noted Press Gazette (August 3). ““This is a moment to build, not to cut,” began the letter. “These cuts represent a serious danger to our ability to diversify our coverage into women’s sport. There is a very real risk that the cuts will drive our readers and supporters elsewhere, to other areas of the media that are putting more resources into sports coverage.”

“In order to ensure the Guardian is financially sustainable and delivers the journalism that best serves our readers and their interests, we are having to make some difficult decisions,” said a GNM spokesperson in response. “This includes proposals to reduce some aspects of sport and lifestyle journalism, and we are also proposing a reorganisation in the ways we produce our journalism so that our editorial processes are truly digital-first. Sport is an important part of what the Guardian offers our readers, across all platforms, and that will absolutely continue to be the case. We will stay focused on the areas where Guardian Sport is highly distinctive and award-winning: breaking exclusive stories, great sports writing, wit, innovation, and our global sensibility.”

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