The interview was uploaded in April 2020, and since then professional sport has resumed albeit with limited fan attendance in some areas and no fan attendance in others. For sports journalists it’s now much easier to find things to cover on their shows as sport is happening in a similar capacity to before the pandemic hit, whereas when this interview was published, live sport had been brought to a halt meaning broadcasters didn’t have the luxury of being able to keep audiences updated with live sport.
After watching this interview, I have learned that sports broadcasting needs to have an aura of positivity running throughout. I say this because Lee mentions a letter that he received from one of his listeners, which asked him to talk less about the news and current events whilst also telling him to keep up the good work in providing a positive piece of escapism. This shows what audiences really tune in for when it comes to media consumption, particularly in sport.
Three questions I would have asked in that interview are:
“The Cheltenham Races and other sporting events went ahead as planned, and many criticised the government for not postponing the events. What is your opinion on this matter? Should the events have proceeded as planned?”
“Do you think a financial plan should be put in place to protect sport at a lower level and to stop football clubs from being liquidated?”
“If sport does eventually go ahead without fans in attendance, how do you think this might affect the overall product and the viewing experience?”
If a follow-up interview with Lee Clayton was to happen today, two things would need to be researched in preparation. Firstly, research would need to be conducted into how Talksport managed to cover all of the sport that resumed over the summer. Thereafter, research would need to be conducted into the reception from fans on them being able to hear live sport being reported again, and also into the feedback that Talksport received on social media.
Owen Gardner's Sports Blog 