Miah, A. Garcia, B. & Zhihui, T. (2008) We Are the Media: Alternative Voices and Non-Accredited Media at the Olympic Games. In Dayan, D. & Price, M. Owning the Olympics: Narratives of the New China. University of Michigan Press pp.320-345.
"Narratives about the Olympics arise largely from the stories filed by the mass of journalists—press and broadcasters—who attend the Games and spew forth accounts of what occurs on and off the competition ground. Who those journalists are, what they do, how they are channeled through the Olympics world—each of these factors has implications for what is represented and what the billions around the globe see and read. As such, the issue of defining who is a journalist, what rights they have, and how they are served and managed is crucial, since it will play an important role in determining control of the platform. Yet it is increasingly understood/assumed that the concept of “the journalist” has changed and, with it, the management tasks of the Olympics and its host cities. Our newly expanded concept of the journalist has nevertheless resulted in more than increased demand for media guidance, information and facilities. It will likely have important implications for what is covered and how. In this essay, we look at the processes of change in journalism, using the accreditation process at the Olympics as a lens. We also examine the challenges and opportunities this presents to the construction of narrative(s) about and the management of the Games."