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Combating Corruption in Sport Media

This is an excerpt from Governance in Sport-2nd Edition by Bonnie Tiell.

By Galen Clavio and Matthew Zimmerman

Corruption in the sport media world is not as blatant or ubiquitous compared to other sectors in the industry that are more susceptible to acts of fraudulent and deviant behavior by individuals with questionable ethics. Sport journalism and the media industry are not completely immune to corruption, however. For example, a former chief executive of Fox International Channels (now Fox Networks Group) was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a broadcasting rights bribery scandal to secure prominent FIFA matches. Although the executive was acquitted of the charges by a federal judge who alluded to foreign commercial bribery schemes not being under their jurisdiction, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continued to investigate (Sanker, 2023).

Examples of potential corruption in sport media include journalists leaking sensitive information (e.g., injury details) to third parties that may influence betting odds; exaggerating stories to create media attention; plagiarism and misattribution by stealing content without permission; and compromised editorial independence to satisfy the interests of paid advertisers or sponsors. Biased media reporting is perhaps the most prevalent form of corrupt practices in sports, evidenced by unconditionally favoring national coverage of the Olympic Games in one’s home country. A conflict of interest may also arise when attempting to entertain an audience, as opposed to providing objective reporting.

Combating unethical practices in sport media reporting is essential to maintaining integrity and fairness in sporting events and to preserving a persona as a credible source for reliable communication and information. To facilitate integrity and fairness, a multifaceted approach is warranted. Stringent ethical guidelines and codes of conduct must be established and enforced throughout the media landscape when sports are involved. Media channels and outlets must eradicate any temptation of biased coverage or sensationalism of sports that can result in misinformation or manipulation. A collaborative partnership between sports rights holders, media outlets, and law enforcement agencies should ensure corrupt behavior in the industry is investigated and prosecuted fairly, with the involved parties held accountable for their actions.

More Excerpts From Governance in Sport-2nd Edition

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