“Guide for Sports Journalists”: Towards sports journalism that respects human rights

Designed as a pedagogical and professional tool aimed at strengthening the skills of sports journalists and enabling them to produce professional and ethical media content in line with human rights principles, the guide stands out for its integrated methodological structure.

Through its foreword, the guide places the link between sports journalism and human rights in context, before addressing the cognitive, professional, legal, ethical, communication, psychological, technical and digital pillars that form the foundation of responsible journalistic practice.

It also devotes several chapters to the ethics of sports coverage, the principles of integrity and impartiality, respect for the dignity of athletes and the rights of supporters, as well as the importance of an ethical media image and discourse, highlighting the role of the sports journalist as an educational and social actor.

On this occasion, the Interministerial Delegate for Human Rights, Mohammed El Habib Belkouch, stated that this guide fits within the Kingdom’s strategic vision that makes sport a driver of economic and social development and a platform for leadership, cultural influence and human coexistence.

Morocco relies on the essential role of major sporting events as international platforms for the exchange of experience, skills and expertise, and as attractive and structured spaces that promote social inclusion, the sharing of human values, the promotion of mutual understanding and living together, as well as the dissemination of a culture of human rights.

In this regard, he indicated that the delegation had organised two workshops bringing together more than 80 sports journalists, which resulted in the drafting of this guide.

He also expressed the hope that this guide would strengthen the efforts of sports journalism as a key partner in ensuring professional sports media coverage that contributes to the consolidation of human rights and to the projection of a positive and objective image of Morocco as a country of tolerance, diversity, coexistence, dialogue and peace.

For her part, the UN Women Representative in Morocco, Myriem Ouchen Noussairi, highlighted the interconnection between issues related to sport and the media and those of development, equality and the fight against discrimination, stressing the central role of sports journalism.

According to the UN official, sports media do not only cover sporting events and report competition results, but also help shape collective narratives related to social representations, which implies a greater awareness of the importance of promoting a discourse of coexistence and tolerance.

She also pointed out that sports journalism is a fundamental tool for raising public awareness of the importance of fighting discrimination and promoting human rights, affirming that this guide “is a concrete and practical tool in the service of responsible and committed sports media”.

At the same time, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Morocco, Noëlla Richard, highlighted the progress made by Morocco in promoting human rights, adding that the country has now established itself as an essential destination for African and international sport.

Sports journalism is called upon to help strengthen this momentum, not only through professional coverage of sporting events, but also through a commitment to universal values, she maintained.

For his part, Mehdi Helmi, UNFPA programme coordinator in Morocco, highlighted the major sporting events organised by the Kingdom, which have been widely praised, noting that they serve as a catalyst to promote social inclusion and strengthen the values of sharing and coexistence.

It should be noted that translations of the guide into Amazigh, French and English are being prepared in order to generalise its use and ensure wide dissemination, particularly in view of the 2030 World Cup.

Editorial team/le7tv