The Fundación Jóvenes y Deporte, part of the Junta de Extremadura, hosted the fourth edition of the Symposium on Sports Communication in the 21st Century on 14 October in Badajoz. This event gathered renowned journalists and communicators to share experiences and analyse changes in sports information.
Sponsored by Ibercaja, the symposium took place in the auditorium of the Faculty of Documentation and Communication Sciences at the University of Extremadura. Through two keynote speeches and a panel discussion, various perspectives on the reality of sports journalism were explored, including the work of regional media and news agencies, as well as the role of opinion and entertainment in new communication formats.
The opening ceremony featured Laureano León, the Regional Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sports, who emphasised that "digitalisation has multiplied channels, sources, and audiences." León highlighted that "the great challenge of sports journalism is to maintain rigor, quality, and independence while not losing the ability to connect with people."
José Antonio Reina kicked off the keynote presentations with his talk titled 'Sports information on regional radio: The operation of the programme Extremadura en juego.' His presentation underscored the close relationship with clubs and athletes and the ability of regional media to highlight sports activities in the area.
The second keynote was delivered by Luis Villarejo Alonso, director of Sports at the EFE Agency, who discussed 'Anatomy of sports journalism in international agencies: The visibility of emerging sports.' His talk examined how major news agencies operate and their role in disseminating sports events.
The day concluded with a panel discussion titled 'Passion, opinion, or spectacle: Where is sports journalism headed?' featuring Irene Junquera, David Sánchez, José Luis López, and Andrea Peláez. This session allowed for a discussion on the immediacy of information, competition for audience attention, and the impact of digital platforms on sports journalism.
With this fourth edition, the Symposium on Sports Communication in the 21st Century continues to serve as a meeting point for the exchange of ideas among journalists, students, and sports professionals. The Fundación Jóvenes y Deporte reaffirms its commitment to a vision of sports that goes beyond competition, highlighting the importance of communication in increasing the visibility of athletes and strengthening their presence in society.
