NU-Q masterclass discusses significance of sport communications

“Without media, sport is just play.” And with that Craig L. LaMay, an associate professor with Northwestern University began the first in a series of masterclasses on sport communications at NU-Q. 

“The average person’s greatest sporting experience is probably as a spectator watching a live game on TV,” LaMay said. He pointed out that because of that the modern sports journalist no longer just reports the score of the game, but also examines how sport is addressing political tensions and international human or civil rights issues.

“The focus of governance on world sport is the big story of this year,” the professor said. He noted that the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games – as well as this summer’s 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Russia – are already garnering headlines. Coverage of the Winter Olympics includes heavy coverage of the relationship between the host nation South Korea and North Korea, as well as the 168 Russian athletes who will be competing despite recent reports of state-sponsored doping.

Those attending the program include key players from Qatar’s leading public relations agencies, communications offices, and broadcast networks such as Portland Communications, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Al Jazeera.   

The next two sessions of the program “Sport Law and Governance,” with Fordham University Professor Mark Conrad and “Using Sport Marketing to Influence the Growth of Business and Sport,” with Northwestern University Professor Candy Lee will discuss key legal concepts that govern international sport and provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in sport marketing.