But first: this wedding might overtake the Taylor-Travis nuptials
EDITOR’S NOTE
I was fully prepared to spend this week in a post-World Cup slump, but luckily basketball stepped in to fill the void. Like everyone else (NBA commissioner Adam Silver included), I’m officially on LeBron James watch to see which team he ultimately signs with. It’s giving Bachelor vibes, but one contender may have accidentally dropped a hint. (Pretty sure an intern is getting fired somewhere.) If James’s drawn-out decision — and its potential impact on the upcoming schedule — is my thorn this week, then my rose is definitely the fact that this beloved dynamic duo will return to the WNBA All-Star Weekend. I’ve missed their particular brand of unfiltered commentary. Speaking of main attractions, the hottest ticket to this year’s competition isn’t even the game — another marquee event is drawing big numbers… despite the absence of a few major players. It just shows you how deep the W’s bench really is. Now, let’s get to the rest of the sports headlines…
— Jordan Galloway, Editor, Katonah, NY
Let's Discuss
Eyes Up Here
What's going on: Female athletes have spent years competing against more than just their opponents. They've also had to contend with slow-motion replays, camera angles, and social media clips that often focus on their bodies instead of their performances. Now, European Athletics (EA) and several major European broadcasters want to change that. The organizations issued new production guidelines that urge camera crews to avoid unnecessary close-ups of athletes' chests, butts, or crotches before, during, and after competition. (Hard to believe that has to be said, but here we are.) The recommendations come after repeated complaints from athletes that coverage can feel more voyeuristic than sports-focused, especially once broadcast footage is reposted online, where athletes say it often takes on a life of its own. In the 23-page report, British Olympic pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw shared that she’d received social media abuse firsthand “when slow-motion content of us competing is captured.”
Changing the angle: This isn't the first attempt to rethink how women's sports are documented. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, broadcasters were also encouraged to film men and women similarly to avoid sexualizing female athletes. This time, though, EA and the European Broadcasting Union have gone a step further by publishing a formal playbook for the media. The recommendations aren't enforceable, and there's no comparable public standard among major US broadcasters. But they do establish a shared definition of what respectful coverage looks like — something that's been missing to date. It's also backed by years of print media research that finds female athletes are more likely than men to be portrayed in ways that emphasize their appearance over their athletic achievements. It's a pattern researchers say reinforces gender stereotypes and can overshadow their accomplishments. As women's sports enter a new commercial era, if broadcasters want viewers to see them as the elite competitors they are, then the camera should, too.
