World Sports Journalists Day is annually observed on July 2. The holiday, also known as International Sports Journalists Day, was established by the International Sports Press Association in 1994 to commemorate its 70th anniversary. The development of sports journalism in the 1800s was primarily concentrated on elitist sports and the social context of sporting events. In the 1920s, newspapers began to devote more time and space to sports journalism, and the profession began to take shape.
The background of World Sports Journalists Day
In honour of its 70th anniversary, the International Sports Press Association (A.I.P.S.) celebrated World Sports Journalists Day for the first time in 1994. The A.I.P.S. was founded in 1924 as L’Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive in Paris, France. However, the association’s headquarters are now located in Lausanne, the Olympic metropolis of Switzerland. The A.I.P.S. is an independent organisation that receives funding through membership fees and the contributions of other international organisations and federations from its 160 member associations.
According to its website, the purpose of the A.I.P.S. is to “enhance cooperation between its member associations in defending sport and the professional interests of members, to strengthen friendship, solidarity, and common interests among sports journalists of all nations, and to guarantee the best possible working conditions for members.”
The concentration of sports journalism is on sports-related topics. The development of sports journalism occurred in the 1800s, specifically in the 1820s and 1830s. Initially, reporting centred on elite activities such as horse racing and boxing, as newspapers were inaccessible to the general public. However, the development of the penny press made newspaper production more affordable, thereby making them more accessible to the lesser classes of society. During the 20th century, the prominence of sports journalism exploded. In newspapers, only 0.4% of space was devoted to sports in 1880. This percentage increased to twenty percent by the 1920s, when newspapers began employing sports reporters exclusively. Today, sports journalism also utilises radio, television, and the Internet in addition to print media.
WORLD SPORTS JOURNALISTS DAY ACTIVITIES
Read a sports segment
Celebrating by perusing a sports section of a newspaper or magazine. It may feel different than viewing sports in person, but it may prove to be a novel experience.
Listen to or view a sports broadcast.
Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, consider viewing or listening to a sports broadcast in honour of this day. If nothing else, it will expand your knowledge.
Utilise the hashtag
To bring attention to World Sports Journalists Day! Utilise the #worldsportsjournalistsday hashtag in an online post.
5 FACTS ABOUT SPORTS JOURNALISTS
Jacobson has covered the Olympics and co-hosts “This Morning Saturday” on CBS.
Guillen is one of the most influential sports figures on social media and a journalist at E.S.P.N.
Kenny Albert, son of the legendary sportscaster Marv Albert, is a multiple-award-winning sports commentator.
Wilson, an influential sports figure, is the proprietor and editor of the football publication “The Blizzard.”
Reilly is an E.S.P.N. columnist and a member of the U.S. National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
WORLD SPORTS JOURNALISTS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 2 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 2 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 2 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 2 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 2 | Friday |
