Social Media Framing of Athletes by Media Networks and the Public during the 2022 Winter Olympics

Abstract

This research proposal aims to investigate the factors influencing the perception of Olympic athletes, with a specific focus on Beverly Zhu and Eileen Gu during the 2022 Winter Olympics. The study will explore how media networks frame the images and crises of these athletes on social media, as well as the impact of this framing on the general public's perceptions. By conducting a content analysis of social media posts from both sports media networks and the public, the study aims to identify patterns and correlations between media coverage and public responses. The analysis will examine the tone, content, and framing tactics used in the posts to understand how athlete images are constructed and perceived. The findings of this study will contribute to the fields of sports media and society by shedding light on the current-day influences of sports media companies on public perceptions and the framing tactics employed to shape these perceptions.