Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Gayle  McPherson; Hugh O'Donnell; David McGillivray; Laura  Misener

doi:10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823

Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Gayle McPherson, Hugh O'Donnell, David McGillivray, Laura Misener

Media and Journalism

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

157 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article offers a discourse analysis of media representations of paraathletes
before, during and post the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth
Games in print and online sources, drawing on the lens of critical
disability theory. We consider the importance of the media–sport
cultural complex in influencing public attitudes towards disability.
We conclude that whilst the importance of discursive change cannot
be underestimated at the level of the media agenda, change at the
level of lived experience will only flow from carefully designed and
executed political and policy initiatives rather than directly from
changes in the media presentation or visibility of individual athletes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	659-675
Number of pages	17
Journal	Disability and Society
Volume	31
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823
Publication status	Published - 27 May 2016

Keywords

Commonwealth Games
Para-sport
disability
media
mega-events

Documents and Links

10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823

O'Donnell, H et al (2016) Disability and Society journal article
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Disability and Society on 18/07/2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823
Accepted author manuscript, 216 KB

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

McPherson, G., O'Donnell, H., McGillivray, D., & Misener, L. (2016). Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Disability and Society, 31(5), 659-675 . https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823

@article{2b5591af3cb74dc7923eb238c0153f4d,

title = "Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games",

abstract = "This article offers a discourse analysis of media representations of paraathletesbefore, during and post the Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames in print and online sources, drawing on the lens of criticaldisability theory. We consider the importance of the media–sportcultural complex in influencing public attitudes towards disability.We conclude that whilst the importance of discursive change cannotbe underestimated at the level of the media agenda, change at thelevel of lived experience will only flow from carefully designed andexecuted political and policy initiatives rather than directly fromchanges in the media presentation or visibility of individual athletes.",

keywords = "Commonwealth Games, Para-sport, disability, media, mega-events",

author = "Gayle McPherson and Hugh O'Donnell and David McGillivray and Laura Misener",

note = "online pub: 18/07/2016 accepted: 16/05/2016 (proof in SAN) publisher version uploaded - requested AAM 5-8-16, provided 23-8-16; 18m embargo YYYY only for final pub date - used date from Crossref. Note that online date is after print pub date and not possible to include in Pure. ET 11/8/20 ",

year = "2016",

month = may,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "659--675 ",

journal = "Disability and Society",

issn = "0968-7599",

publisher = "Routledge ",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Elite athletes or superstars? Media representation of para-athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

AU - McPherson, Gayle

AU - O'Donnell, Hugh

AU - McGillivray, David

AU - Misener, Laura

N1 - online pub: 18/07/2016 accepted: 16/05/2016 (proof in SAN) publisher version uploaded - requested AAM 5-8-16, provided 23-8-16; 18m embargo YYYY only for final pub date - used date from Crossref. Note that online date is after print pub date and not possible to include in Pure. ET 11/8/20

PY - 2016/5/27

Y1 - 2016/5/27

N2 - This article offers a discourse analysis of media representations of paraathletesbefore, during and post the Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames in print and online sources, drawing on the lens of criticaldisability theory. We consider the importance of the media–sportcultural complex in influencing public attitudes towards disability.We conclude that whilst the importance of discursive change cannotbe underestimated at the level of the media agenda, change at thelevel of lived experience will only flow from carefully designed andexecuted political and policy initiatives rather than directly fromchanges in the media presentation or visibility of individual athletes.

AB - This article offers a discourse analysis of media representations of paraathletesbefore, during and post the Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames in print and online sources, drawing on the lens of criticaldisability theory. We consider the importance of the media–sportcultural complex in influencing public attitudes towards disability.We conclude that whilst the importance of discursive change cannotbe underestimated at the level of the media agenda, change at thelevel of lived experience will only flow from carefully designed andexecuted political and policy initiatives rather than directly fromchanges in the media presentation or visibility of individual athletes.

KW - Commonwealth Games

KW - Para-sport

KW - disability

KW - media

KW - mega-events

U2 - 10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823

DO - 10.1080/09687599.2016.1197823

M3 - Article

VL - 31

SP - 659

EP - 675

JO - Disability and Society

JF - Disability and Society

SN - 0968-7599

IS - 5

ER -