Editors: Ryan Broussard (Sam Houston State), Marcus Funk (Sam Houston State), Rich Johnson (Arizona State), and Lindsey Sherrill (North Alabama)
Since the advent of the podcast nearly 20 years ago, the industry has grown exponentially. Academic studies have explored numerous genres, ranging from true crime (Sherrill, 2023) to politics (Funk & Speakman, 2022) to education (Drew, 2017) and fiction (Yeates, 2018). Despite the quickly expanding range of podcast studies, few authors have examined sports podcasting, despite its enormous reach and breadth of production styles, topics, and hosts.
Many sports broadcasting scholars have examined stereotypical portrayals and their effects on people of color, especially black athletes (Billings, 2004), and the sexualization (Cranmer et al., 2014) and marginalization of women (Cooky et al., 2021). Research has also explored the international spectacle of sporting events, such as the Olympics (Billings, 2008; Billings et al., 2018). Critical scholars have examined the sports media complex (Jhally, 1989; Rowe, 2013) and consequences of its monopolies (New & Le Grand, 1999) and its relationship to militarism (Butterworth, 2017) and white male hegemony (Leonard, 2017). Sports radio scholars have explored the industry’s hyperlocalism (Guillifor & Thurwanger, 2008), its emotional emphasis (Alolade, 2023), and its hypermasculinity and sexism (Darnell & Wilson, 2006; Dempsey, 2008; Nylund, 2007).
However, to date there has not been genre-defining scholarship that explores the newer podcasting medium. Some scholars have explored the disruption of the new medium (Broussard et al., 2024), the demographics of the audience (Galily et al., 2022), community bonds and creativity (Taylor, 2022). Because there has been little research published on sports podcasts, this book may set the agenda for future sports podcast research.
To address this gap in sports podcasting research, we are seeking chapter proposals for an edited volume about sports podcasts. Possible topic areas include, but are not limited to:
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- The growth of sports podcasting
- Ethical and/or practical concerns at the intersection of traditional sports journalism and sports podcasting
- Sports podcasts and sports gambling
- Diversity in sports podcasting
- International sports podcasting
- Sports podcasting and the Olympics
- Parasocial relationships and sports podcasting
- Sports podcast audience and/or effects
- Entrepreneurial sports podcasting
- Podcasts by professional and amateur journalists as well as former players or coaches
- Sport management perspectives
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To submit a proposal:
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- Proposals should be ~500 words + references
- Please include a brief (2-3 sentence) biography for each author
- Email your proposal to sportspodcastingbook@gmail.com by December 15, 2024
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Final chapters should be 6,000-8,000 words, including figures and references. Authors will be notified of acceptance in January 2025. Full chapters are due June 1. Revisions will be due Sept. 1.
Please note: We are in contract discussions with Palgrave-McMillian, and deadlines or chapter lengths may change due to publisher request.
