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@article{196597,
        author = {Sherral Joseph and Dr. Abhishika Sharma},
        title = {The Journey of Digital Journalism from field to feed: How digital Sports Journalism Amplifies Social Justice Narratives and influences athlete activism.},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {3511-3531},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=196597},
        abstract = {Background of the StudyL: Overview of sports journalism and its evolution. Deeply rooted in the rapid growth of modern media, the symbiosis between sports and journalism evolved most naturally. From historical times of newsprint to today’s 24/7 digital news cycle, sports journalism has played a crucial role in moulding public perceptions, fostering national identities, and drawing global audiences together. In the beginning, sports garnered only a niche audience but now has grown into a huge multi-media industry as diverse as television broadcasts, radio commentary, blogs, and social media coverage.
•	Even from the earliest times sports journalism played a more dynamic role than just providing the world with scores and events. It also evolved into a medium through which a societal lens could be examined, and societal issues such as politics, race, gender, and economics became more transparent. 
•	In this study, we look at the evolution of sports journalism, from its ancient beginnings to its current stature as a driving force in global media. Further, it will also explore how the portrayal of sports by digital media influences and amplifies social narratives through athlete activism and contributes to the globalization of the media and sports industry. 
•	By going back through history to study the force of sports journalism, this study will hold a microscope not only to the entertainment dynamics but also examine it as a powerful tool for social change, communication, and the emulation of cultural values across the world.
•	Numerous industries have been transformed by the rapid emergence of digital journalism, and the sports industry is no exception to this change. In recent years, however, the role of digital journalism in sports has gradually increased with the inclusion of several dynamics that have never been seen before. 
•	Now, the industry uses digital journalism to reshape how sports are played, analysed, and consumed, putting forth a whole new era of innovation. Digital Journalism helps improve personalized content offerings, fan experiences, and is transforming every corner of the sports world. 
Sports as a platform for athlete activism
Sports evolved naturally as a great platform where all athletes from diverse backgrounds can stand together as equals. Therefore, it emerged as a strong medium to highlight critical social issues like racism, gender inequality, sexual abuse, economic disparities, discrimination, and the impact of commercialization and globalization on sports and society.
In 2020, ESPN was responsible for ordering a survey on social issues in sports following an incident of protest by sports fans that were related to police shootings. According to the survey:
•	Seventy-one percent spoke for athletes, standing strongly against racial inequality.
•	Sixty-three percent NFL fans stood up for social justice messages in end zones.
•	Fifty-five percent of NBA fans advocated for Black Lives Matter
•	Fifty-one percent advocated for athletes who spoke about social issues during games. 
The rise of social issues in public discourse.
India, being the second most populous country in the world, is bound with numerous social challenges. These issues range from healthcare access to gender inequality and discrimination. All these issues over the years, with the help of rapidly growing technological trends, have emerged to the forefront through public discourse. 
In India, the caste system dominated many social dynamics, building barriers that were responsible for many social issues. Throughout our history, from the fight for independence and even now to modern day, gender inequality has been at the forefront of all our issues while facing the brunt of discrimination in various sectors.
Over the years, sports have emerged as a strong platform to bring to light ongoing debates on climate and increasing threats to extreme weather, including floods, fires, and rising temperatures, and how they will impact sporting events and the well-being of athletes. 
In 2022, there was great emphasis on the connections between climate change and respect for fundamental human rights. Reports show that almost three hundred sports federations and members of the wider sport ecosystem signed up for the UN’s Sport for Climate Action initiative and committed to reducing their climate impact. 
Besides this, sports have also emerged as the platform where athletes have over the years discovered the freedom to speak about genuine issues that impact their performance and their lives. From mental health to racial discrimination, athletes are talking about it without inhibition.
The increasing intersection of social issues and sports. 
As sports became more popular and a largely visible platform, it became easier to use it as a medium to tackle systemic issues including discrimination and sexual abuse. It called on leadership that was both empathetic and respectful to create fair, inclusive and enabling cultures within sports governance. 
Conversations on fair inclusion, the rights of transgender athletes or athlete with variations in sex characteristics has become a trending human rights topic in the sports area since 2022. In this regard IOC released a framework to address discrimination and fairness based on gender identity. In 2021, events that targeted athletes who racially abused spurred investigations into institutional racism.
Another concern joining the watch list in the sporting area is mental health that came to the fore when high-profile athletes spoke openly during major sporting events. 
Post-COVID-19 brough to light mental issue across many countries. One of the much-debated incidents during the pandemic was the deportation of Novak Djokovic from Australia. This highlighted issues like vaccination requirements, health inequalities in society, and exemptions for sporting events.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {April},
        }