Matt Ventresca

I am so excited to be part of a fantastic research team working on new research studying equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in Canadian sports media. The team is led by Dr. Adam Ali (Western University) and also includes Dr. Estée Fresco (York University), Dr. Nicole Neverson (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Shireen Ahmed (CBC sports journalist/Toronto Metropolitan University). 

This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight program.

The research will investigate the corporate “turn” to EDI (sometimes called DEI) by Canadian sports media companies in response to social activism – specifically the movements challenging systemic racism and police brutality in Canada and the U.S. In 2020 and 2021, TSN and Sportsnet specifically made commitments to diversify their programming, centering stories of Indigenous and Black athletes in Canada, and creating more opportunities for women and racialized broadcasters and personalities. We are interested in tracing the impacts of these commitments and will focus on these two questions: 

1. How, and with what effects, do TSN and Sportsnet contribute to EDI in their sport programming and content? 
2. What are the experiences of Racialized and Indigenous Canadians (RICs) working in sport media, and how do they describe the EDI turn and its impact?

To answer these questions, we will be analyzing media/social media content while conducting interviews/focus groups with Racialized and Indigenous Canadians working in the industry.

I could not be more excited to involved in such important, groundbreaking work with this amazing team!