Broadcast TV networks are counting down the days. To the return of their NFL golden goose as training camp begins. At a time when the sports media landscape looks murky.

This month has featured a few juxtaposing stories regarding sports media. First, the firing of Northwestern Football head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Amid a hazing scandal embroiling the program. The scandal was revealed by reports from Northwestern’s independent student newspaper The Daily Northwestern. While the allegations of hazing and racism surrounding Northwestern Football are sickening. One silver lining is The Daily Northwestern’s role in bringing this to people’s attention. The Daily Northwestern’s work can give people hope about the future of journalism.

Hours after Fitzgerald’s firing, The New York Times announced the disbanding of their sports department. Opting to shift NYT’s sports coverage primarily to The Athletic. The website The New York Times Company bought last year. This news comes during a year full of media industry layoffs. Earlier this summer, The Athletic itself laid-off roughly four percent of its staff. The Athletics’ Cincinnati Bengals reporter Jay Morrison was among 20 journalists laid-off. ESPN is in the midst of layoffs, as part of a wider downsizing by ESPN’s owners The Walt Disney Company. 

In regard to The New York Times and ESPN. It’s important to note the owners of these media outlets. These aren’t small-town Mom and Pop operations. The New York Times is widely regarded as America’s newspaper of record. With a budget and resources newspapers like The Cincinnati Enquirer can now only dream of. Disney is one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world. If those giants are struggling, one can only imagine the struggles smaller outlets are facing.

As the ESPN layoffs are showing, sports media’s financial issues aren’t limited to newspapers. Regional sports networks like Bally Sports Ohio are facing their own uncertain future. Bally Sports’ owners Diamond Sports Group recently declared bankruptcy. Missed broadcasting rights payments have resulted in Bally losing the broadcasting rights to two Major League Baseball teams. The San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks news broke earlier this month. Earlier this year, Bally Sports Ohio came close to losing their Cincinnati Reds broadcasting rights.

Bally is also losing their Atlantic Coast Conference Football and Basketball broadcasts to The CW. Acquiring ACC broadcasts is a major addition for The CW. As they try to add more sports to their lineup in hopes of being considered a major broadcast network. As sporting events become more important for broadcast TV networks. Especially as those networks face an autumn full of reruns. Due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. Bringing much of America’s entertainment industry to a halt.

The strikes highlight an interesting dynamic for broadcasters and sports. The major networks are becoming more dependent on sports broadcasts for big ratings. In an era where viewers have countless options to choose from. The strike could deepen network’s dependence on sports. Even if the WGA and SAG-AFTRA ultimately get what they want. Which is better pay, health benefits and protections from the use of artificial intelligence. Network’s dependence on sports makes them eager to pay for the broadcasting rights for events.

Those financial dynamics are having an effect on sports organizations. For example, the Pac-12 Conference is struggling to put a new media deal together. Those struggles likely contributed to The University of Colorado’s plans to depart the Pac-12 for the Big 12. A moment which could lead to the downfall of the Pac-12. With the conference set to lose Colorado, USC and UCLA.

The Pac-12’s media deal struggles baffle me. Considering it’s a conference with schools in Silicon Valley. One would figure they would be able to lure a streaming platform like Apple TV or Amazon Prime. Which are making inroads into sports programming. At a time when big tech companies have a big presence and effect on society.

Those big business dynamics add to the importance of sports journalism. Making this a time when media outlets would be wise to invest in sports journalism. Amid the gloomy “the sports page is dying” articles one can find on the internet. I’m optimistic that sports journalism will survive and hopefully thrive. Cincinnati’s recent success sports-wise showcases local sports journalism’s importance.

The Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Bengals and FC Cincinnati’s recent success have brought excitement to Cincinnati. Bringing the Greater Cincinnati area and Cincinnati sports fans globally together. Bringing people together may seem like a herculean task in a polarized landscape. However, sports bring people together in the way few things are today. The dynamics of the times make it important for media outlets to invest in quality journalism. Ultimately, as long as people are curious about what’s happening. There will always be a need for journalism.