ABSTRACT
Legacy sports media has historically not covered women’s sports and when it has, coverage has often seen female athletes and the sport they play trivialised and sexualised, which has potential detrimental effects on women’s participation in sport. In the twenty-first century however, there are signs that legacy media coverage is changing and treating women as athletes first. At the same time, traditional media’s powerful reach has been disrupted by digital technology. The advent of social and digital media has lowered the barrier of entry for those creating media content and both organisations and individuals have the ability to create new narratives. Yet these platforms are also problematic in that they allow participants to post directly to the public, and the public to respond, without any filters. These important changes in the media landscape are discussed in relation to sport for women and girls.
