Abstract
ABSTRACT Sports journalism practice faces important challenges deriving from the multiplication of platforms, the acceleration of workflows, the emergence of new entrants and the audiences’ shifting consumption habits. In a bid to overcome those challenges and advance innovation across the board, the French newspaper L’Équipe established a specific unit for that purpose: Explore. By focusing on this case study, this research has examined the formats, output and practices deployed by Explore and evaluated its impact within L’Équipe’s offer. The study is informed by content analysis performed on the projects (N = 201) published by Explore over a 32-month timeframe (May 2021–December 2023), ethnographic work and eight semi-structured interviews with its employees. Findings reveal that Explore stands out as a leading “media lab” in sports journalism. Through a broad range of formats and a multifaceted agenda, Explore occupies a unique position in terms of delivering cultural capital. Explore embraces alternative production modes that invest in freedom and research while rejecting hyper-accelerated cycles and clickbait-oriented approaches. Such proposition has resonated with audiences and positioned Explore as a cornerstone of L’Équipe’s commercial strategy. Solutions articulated by Explore contribute to the broader discussion of how sports journalism practice can be reshaped in the digital age.
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