Fifteenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

As always in sports journalism there are ethical questions of embedding and influence when journalists gain access to stadiums and games. The Press Box is a small microcosm of sports journalists all working towards the same goal on the same content. This paper compares press boxes from around the world through the team/club communications, access, inclusivity, amenities, cultural norms and statistics delivery. Down in Australia the Melbourne Cricket Club runs out of one of the largest stadiums in the world. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) seats 100,024 people and hosts a multitude of sports and other cultural events. It contains the Australian National Sports Museum, a library, a restaurant, a specific member wing and countless venues available for hire. Over in the USA, the Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the longest-lasting teams within the juggernaut of Major League Baseball. Their home, PNC Park, is consistently rated as one of the best Baseball parks in the US, but what is it like from the Press Box? And how does it compare to other sports and other boxes. This study is a taster for an upcoming book proposal on sporting press boxes. By focusing on different clubs and how their press box operates for the sporting journalists (including embedded, floating, and internal journalists) this book will be aiming to look at a whole range of sports and countries to create a professional account of sporting press boxes around the world. It will be an invaluable resource for all things sporting media.