Module: SPD4004-20 Inclusivity in Sport

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Suman Ghosh

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.ghosh@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module will look at inclusivity in sport focussing on relationships with the media and broadcasters.

Students will be introduced to the journey disabled sport has made over the last half century and trace its place among sports offerings for viewers, listeners and readers: The change in public perceptions of disability sport with TV companies involved in bidding wars to buy coverage of major events and the inclusion of para events in multi-sports Games.

There will be analysis of the way disabled sportsmen and women are treated in the media including coverage of Paralympic and Invictus Games but also reporting (or often lack of it) outside of these events.

Working alongside Paralympic sports governing bodies, best practice in the language and style of reporting disability sports will be taught. Students will learn the correct terminology and the best treatments of athletes in filming, interviewing and in a sporting context. Students will be challenged to understand what can be seen as clumsy, thoughtless and patronising language and images and why. Skills learnt will be put into practice in filming sessions with disability athletes.

Storytelling sessions will focus on how to make items accessible, informative and balanced between reporting on achievement rather than impairment.

The BA (Hons) course champions the skills of disabled students and encourages their participation. The module will look at the barriers which need to be overcome by minority producers, technical staff and reporters. This will include disability and race. It will ask what can be done to make use of a pool of talent and how the sports coverage can be more inclusive.

All students will be given opportunities to find ways of changing preconceptions in front of and behind the camera and showcase skills learned.

The module will look at how sport reflects society? With assessments of how sports are dealing with gender inclusivity at grassroots and elite levels, diversity in the media, the reasons behind the lack of gay competitors in certain sports and the type of people watching sport. Efforts being made to change these will be examined.

2. Outline syllabus

• Disability sport and its place in British media

• Covering disability sport and the pitfalls to avoid

• Challenges over language and context in inclusivity sports items

• Minority staff working in sports media

• Theory of Storytelling - how to make items accessible, informative and balanced

• Making it happen - planning and filming disability and/or Inclusivity items

• Effective use of recce and risk assessment procedures

• Inclusivity issues in sport - examinations of changes made and those to come

3. Teaching and learning activities

The module will be taught using a mixture of lectures, seminars, group discussions and real life experience events with disability athletes and experts in the field. Students will carry out assessed sessions on filming techniques and storytelling. They will be asked to explain which techniques they used and which ones they didn’t and why.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Portfolio (equivalent to 2000 words)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Reflective Essay (equivalent of 2000 words)

• % Weighting: 50%