Media professional and colleague Falah Al-Qahtani affirmed that sports media is no longer just a means of conveying news and results, but has transformed into a strategic partner and a direct influencer in the educational process and shaping awareness among the youth, stressing the need to invest this influence in promoting moral values and sportsmanship among children and adolescents.
This came during his participation in a dialogue session as part of the Ramadan Forum organized by Al-Hurouf Private School in Al-Dilam Governorate, under the title "Partnership between Family and Media in Shaping Values." In his paper, titled "Sports Media… and Values Before Results," Al-Qahtani addressed the educational dimensions of sports content and its profound impact on the behavior of the new generation.
The evolution of the media landscape and its impact on young people
In discussing the evolution of media, the world is witnessing a massive digital revolution that has made sports content available around the clock via smartphones and social media platforms, increasing children's exposure to media messages to an unprecedented degree. It's no longer limited to watching matches on television; it now extends to following analyses and heated debates through various applications. This places a greater responsibility on content creators to ensure that these messages are free from bias and prejudice.
Al-Qahtani explained that children receive a daily barrage of information and opinions that contribute to shaping their sporting personalities. He pointed out that balanced media discourse helps build a conscious generation that understands that sports are about fair competition, not verbal battles. He added that children's viewing of analytical programs directly influences how they express their loyalty to their clubs, thus necessitating the presentation of positive media role models.
Shared responsibility between family and media
Al-Qahtani emphasized that the responsibility does not lie solely with the media, but is shared with the family, which is the primary bastion of upbringing. He explained that teaching children the culture of healthy cheering begins at home, where children observe their parents' reactions to victory and defeat. If parents practice cheering with grace and respect for the opponent, the child will automatically acquire these behaviors.
He pointed out the danger of being drawn into the language of abuse and incitement that may appear on some platforms, stressing that the professional journalist realizes that a large segment of his audience are young people and therefore his vocabulary must be controlled and his criticism objective, far from personalization or inciting hatred.
Towards a healthy sports environment
Al-Qahtani concluded by emphasizing that the ultimate goal of sports is to refine character and foster unity among peoples, not to sow discord. He called for a code of ethics to which everyone adheres in order to ensure a healthy sporting environment, stressing that harmony between positive role models at home and responsible media discourse forms the cornerstone of building a refined sporting culture that promotes the values of respect, tolerance, and fair competition in society.
