Title: Is Dorothy treated fairly by the press in the Land of Oz? Three Australian newspapers' gendered coverage of the centennial Australian Open Tennis Championships

Authors: Jane Crossman, John Vincent, Sarah Gee

Addresses: School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E1, Canada. ' Department of Kinesiology, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Box 870312, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0312, USA. ' School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand

Abstract: This study examined three Australian newspapers and their coverage of female and male tennis players competing in the centennial Australian Open Tennis Championships. Content analysis was used to compare the amount and prominence of the coverage devoted to female and male tennis players in all articles and photographs. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistically significant differences (p < .05) between genders. Analysis revealed the average size of both articles and photographs favoured male players over female (25.7 sq. inches vs. 21.1, respectively). Male players were depicted in more action shots than females (70.8% vs. 61.7%); received more coverage on the front and back pages of the newspapers (10.6% vs. 3.7%); and were covered more frequently on Saturdays than female players. The difference in coverage between two Australian|s, Hewitt and Molik were also examined. The results and their implications from both a gendered and nationalistic perspective are discussed.

Keywords: gender; print media; tennis coverage; Australia; female tennis players; Australian Open Tennis; male tennis players; newspapers; content analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2010.037505

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2010 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.223 - 243

Published online: 14 Dec 2010 *

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