The Construction of National Identity in British Media Coverage of Sport: A Historical Perspective

The development of British national identity has been a long and complicated process. It began with the inception of the British state, and it continued through the centuries as different groups sought to define themselves in relation to it.

This paper will explore the construction of British national identity in the media during the period from 1945 to 2017. It will focus on coverage of sport, and specifically on how it was used to create a sense of Britishness within the context of post-war Britain.

The 1945-47 period

The period from 1945 to 1947 was an important one in the development of a British national identity. The establishment of a new, post-war state meant that Britishness began to be constructed through the media. This was particularly true for Cric Gator sport, which played a major role in creating a sense of Britishness in post-war Britain.

In this era, sports were more popular than ever before. So much so that there was even talk of hosting the Olympics in London after the war. The first world championship had been held in London since 1938, and when it returned to England’s capital in 1946 it was seen as symbolic of the nation’s re-emergence as a world power.

Sport became an important tool for both nations and states during this period – it’s good form to have sportsmen on your side, especially if you’re fighting an aggressive enemy (as with the 1948 London Olympics).

Sport was also used to create national identities – think about how football became part of British culture during this period and how it helped construct Britishness (and took on different forms depending on the team and location).

The creation of British national identity in the media

The development of British national identity in the media has been a long and complicated process. The idea of Britishness was created to define the dominant group within Britain, and it continued to be developed throughout the centuries as different groups sought to define themselves with relation to the idea of Britishness.

This paper will explore this construction in the period from 1945 to 2017 and will focus on coverage of sport, specifically focusing on how sport was used to create a sense of Britishness within the context of post-war Britain.

Sport offers an interesting way into discussions about national identity because it is able to provide a clear visual representation of what is happening in Britain – both domestically and internationally.

Within sport there is also always a place for people who may not conform conventionally: some people are black, some are disabled, some are LGBT+, etc. This provides a great way for people from all walks of life, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds or sexual orientation (or disability), to take part in sporting activities that do uphold values such as fairness and equality that have traditionally been associated with ‘Britishness’.

Coverage of sport in the post-war period

Sport has long been a key component of British identity and one that has been used to construct it. The media has always been central to this process, and the role it has played in promoting Britishness through Cricgator sport during the post-war period will be explored.

The paper will use a range of sources including newspapers, radio, television and film to explore how sport was reported during the period, which groups were chosen as protagonists and what kind of issues they covered. It will also examine how sport was used to define Britishness in terms of gender, class and race.

Finally, it will analyse how reporting on sport in the post-war years built a picture of national identity for an audience who had experienced total war after seven years of conflict with the Axis powers.

Conclusion

This study shows that the media plays a huge role in defining and constructing national identity. With this in mind, it is important to consider the role of sport in this process. Sport is a way for people to connect with their nation and reflect the values, morals and beliefs of the nation.