A Sociological Study of Social Morals’ Representation by Sports Media in Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Phd Candidate in Islamic Social Knowledge, University of Tehran

2 Professor of Sociology, University of Tehran

Abstract

Introduction: The importance of the media in examining the problems of modern society is rooted in their prominent role in shaping the various dimensions of modern society; because one of the characteristics of the modern world is defined in terms of the two concepts of “time” and “space” and the relationship between the two.  In this regard, what is considered as the sociology of morality in relation to the media is the way of dealing with morals issues in the media as a factor in shaping the general morals of society; today the importance and influence of the media in building and directing public opinion in various fields is not hidden from anyone. Focus on the social morals in sports media and the ways in which the issue of morals and its various dimensions in such media are introduced, promoted and expressed as "representation" is a matter of concern to the present study; What kind of image of morals and moral action is presented to the audience by a media. In other words, sports media what image and translation of social morals, its values and patterns of moral action at the social level, provide their audience. What moral themes they rely on the most and what kind of individual and social behavior they highlight, promote, or denounce. For this purpose, the content of one year from four cases of sports media in Iran, including: “Iran Varzeshi”, “Khabar Varzeshi”, “Abrar Varzeshi” and “Piroozi” newspapers, has been thematized and typed.
Method: Four popular sports media have been considered as cases of the most experienced media in Iran and the types of representation and reflection of social morals and moral elements in their contents and contents are categorized and described through “Qualitative content analysis” method. The unit of analysis in this research has selected the “Subject”. This research is following Blumer’s key “Theoretical Sensitive Concepts” as guidelines for perceiving the phenomenon under study.
Finding: The findings of the research indicate this sports media in the representation of morals is in the range of the dual “morals & anti-morals”. Concept such as “Legalism” has been introduced as positive morals and concept such as “Rumor” has been introduced as negative morals. The two attributes of "Heroic Character" and "Verbal and Behavioral Violence" are described and defined as the least important moral attributes from the perspective of these media.
Results & Conclusion: Occasionally, at the macro level and due to his formal reading of the field of sports, elements such as “trust in the coach” and “his respect” are portrayed as moral actions, and sometimes on the surface of the micro, it expresses “popular literature” at the level of individual morals and social morals. This dual reflects the fact that the representation of social morals in this sports media -at the two levels of mental and practical- is the connection of the constraints with the journalistic attractions and political positions of the media and does not follow a single morals code of conduct.

Keywords

References

  • Abned, G. (2007), “Two Main Problems in the Sociology of Morality”, Theory and Society, No. 37: 87-125.
  • Alexander, V. D. (2003), Sociology of Arts (Exploring Fine and Popular Forms), NY: Black Well Publishing.
  • Andersen, H. (1990), “Morality in Three Social Theories: Parsons, Analytical Marxism and Habermas”, Acta Sociologica, No. 4: 321-339.
  • Andrews, P. (2010), Sports Journalism, Translated by H. Ghasemi, Tehran: Science and Movement Publications.
  • Becker, L. (2001), Philosophy of Ethics, Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute. (In Persian)
  • Blake, N. (2011), Social Research Design, Translated by: H. Chavoshian, Tehran: Ney. (In Persian)
  • ·Bivins, T. (1992), “A Systems Model for Ethical Decision Making in Public Relation1”, Public Relation Review, No: 4: 365-368.
  • Boxill, J. (2003), The Ethics of Competition, NY: Black well.
  • Caruso, R. (2011), “Crime and Sport Participation: Evidence Italian Regions over the Period 1997–2003”, Journal of Socio–Economics, No. 40: 455-463.
  • Cripendoroff, K. (2006), Content Analysis Methodological Foundations, Translated by H. Naebi, Tehran: Ney Publications. (In Persian)
  • Dehkhoda, A. A. (1998), Dehkhoda Dictionary, Vol. 5, Tehran: University of Tehran. (In Persian)
  • Durkheim, E. (1990), About the Division of Social Work, Translated by B. Parham, Tehran: University of Tehran Publications. (In Persian)
  • Durkheim, E. (1981), Philosophy and Sociology, Translated by F. Khamsei, Tehran: Iranian Center for Cultural Studies. (In Persian)
  • Elhami, D. (2000), “Ethical and Mystical Elements in Shiite Jurisprudence”, School of Islam, No. 2: 20-29.
  • Farabi, A. N. M. (2010), Statistics Science, Translated by H. Khadivjam, Tehran: Elmi and Farhangi. (In Persian)
  • Ghadimi, B. (2014), Principles and Schools of Sociology of Sport. Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
  • Giddens, A. (2010), Sociology, Translated by H. Chavoshian, Tehran: Ney. (In Persian)
  • GolMohammadi, A. (2002), “A Look at the Concept and Theories of Globalization”, National Studies, No. 11:  Thousand Oaks, CA:  (In Persian)
  • Ibn al-Babawi, M. I. A. (1998), Reward for Actions and Punishment for Actions, Translated by A. A. Ghafari, Tehran: Sadouk. (In Persian)
  • Hall, S. (1977), The Work of Representation, in Cultural Representation and Signifying Practice, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.
  • Hitlin, S. (2014), “Morality”, Oxford Bibliographies,No. 17: 26-58.
  • Holstie, L. R. (1998), Content Analysis in Social Sciences and Humanities. Translated by N. Salarzadeh Amiri, Tehran: Allameh Tabatabai University. (In Persian)
  • Ibn Babawiyyah, M. I. A. (1998), The Reward of Deeds and the Punishment of Deeds. Translated by A. A. Ghaffari, Tehran: Sadough. (In Persian)
  • Ibn Mesquiah (2018), Refine Morals and Cleanse Races, Translated by: Hossein Qadami, Tehran: Ait Ishraq Publications. (In Persian)
  • Javadi Amoli, A. (2004), Interpretation of Man to Man, Vol. 4, Qom: Esra. (In Persian)
  • Kazemi, A., and Haj Mohammad Hosseini, M. (2014), “Representation of Representation Studies in Iran”, Cultural Studies and Communication, No. 32: 119-142. (In Persian)
  • Khamoushi, S. M. (2011), “The Effect of Media on Changing Behavioral Patterns and Media Morals”, Journal of Quran and Hadith, No. 8: 169-181. (In Persian)
  • Malterud, K. (2001), “Qualitative Research: Standards, Challenges and Guidelines”, Lancet, No. 358: 483-488.
  • Mayring, P. (2000), “Qualitative Content Analysis: Theoretical Foundation”, FQS, Volume 1, No. 2: 1-20.
  • Patton. M. Q. (2002), Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Mehdizadeh, S. M. (2010), Media Theories, Tehran: ‌ Hamshahri. (In Persian)
  • Mesbah Izdi, M. T. (2005), Critique of Ethical Schools, Research and writing: A. H. Sharifi, Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute. (In Persian)
  • Mohammadpour, A. (2010), Method by Method, Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
  • Mohammadpour, A. (2011), Qualitative Research Method against Method, Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
  • Motahari, M. (1989), Philosophy of Ethics, Tehran: Sadra Publications. (In Persian)
  • Pinkafs, E. (2003), From the Central Issue to Virtue, Translated and commented by S. M. R. Hosseini and M. Alipour, Qom: Maaref. (In Persian)
  • Ritzer, G. (2005), Sociological Theories of the Contemporary Age, Translated by M. Thalathi, Tehran: Elmi. (In Persian)
  • Rojek, C. (2003), “An Outline of the Action Approach to Leisure Studies”, Leisure Studies, No. 1: 13-25.
  • Shannon, S. E., and Hsieh, H. F. (2005), “Three Approaches to Qualitative Content Analysis”, Qualitative Health Research, No. 9: 1277-1289.
  • Skinner, J., and Zakus, D. (2008), “Development through Sport: Building Social Capital in Disadvantaged Communities.” Sport Management, No. 11: 253-275.
  • Strinati, D. (2005), An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture. Translated by S. Paknazar, 2nd Edition, Tehran: Game No. (In Persian)
  • Sunni, P. J. (1996), Attitude Based on Moral Precepts. Tehran: Center for Media Studies. (In Persian)
  • Tabatabai, M. H. (1981). Principles of Philosophy and Method of Realism, Tehran: Sadra. (In Persian)
  • Watson, J. and Hill, A. (2006), Dictionary of Media and Communication Studies, Editatin: Hodder Arnold.
  • ·      West, ‌ D., and Butcher, C. (2004), Basics of Physical Education and Sports, Translation: Ahmad Azad, Tehran: National Olympic Committee Publications. (In Persian)
  • Zhang, Y., and Wildemuth, B. M. (2009), “Qualitative Analysis of Content”, Applications of Social Research, No. 30: 1-12.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics