https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.comRSS Feed for Laney BarrymoreenTue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-4/This week in sports media, one story that stood out to me was the continued coverage of how Caitlin Clark’s rookie season affected WNBA viewership. Even though the season is over, networks are already planning how to build next year’s broadcasts around her impact. Another topic that caught my attention was ESPN’s discussion about the level of danger athletes face in the NFL, especially after several major injuries this weekend. Both of these stories connect to how sports media talks about toughness and risk, which ties into this week’s reading. In “Courage is Riding Out a 1,600-Pound Tornado,” Jerry Izenberg focuses on Freckles Brown, a rodeo bull rider who built his career around facing extreme physical danger. Three things from the reading stood out to me. First, Izenberg treats courage as something you can’t really measure, even though people try to compare it. Second, Freckles reached his peak at forty-six, which goes against the idea that athletes only succeed when they’re young. Third, the piece shows the shift from old rodeo culture to a more modern version, yet Freckles stayed the same, which made him feel authentic and grounded. When I compare that to sports media today, I notice similar patterns. The media decides which athletes are “brave,” which moments are “tough,” and which risks are acceptable, even though the reading suggests that courage is more personal and not something to rank. A question I have for the class is: How much influence should sports media have in shaping the way we think about courage, especially when those stories can make real physical danger seem normal or expected?Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-4/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-2/This week in sports media, one story that stood out to me was the continued coverage of how Caitlin Clark’s rookie season affected WNBA viewership. Even though the season is over, networks are already planning how to build next year’s broadcasts around her impact. Another topic that caught my attention was ESPN’s discussion about the level of danger athletes face in the NFL, especially after several major injuries this weekend. Both of these stories connect to how sports media talks about toughness and risk, which ties into this week’s reading. In “Courage is Riding Out a 1,600-Pound Tornado,” Jerry Izenberg focuses on Freckles Brown, a rodeo bull rider who built his career around facing extreme physical danger. Three things from the reading stood out to me. First, Izenberg treats courage as something you can’t really measure, even though people try to compare it. Second, Freckles reached his peak at forty-six, which goes against the idea that athletes only succeed when they’re young. Third, the piece shows the shift from old rodeo culture to a more modern version, yet Freckles stayed the same, which made him feel authentic and grounded. When I compare that to sports media today, I notice similar patterns. The media decides which athletes are “brave,” which moments are “tough,” and which risks are acceptable, even though the reading suggests that courage is more personal and not something to rank. A question I have for the class is: How much influence should sports media have in shaping the way we think about courage, especially when those stories can make real physical danger seem normal or expected?Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-2/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post/This week I read “Courage is Riding Out a 1,600-Pound Tornado,” and the piece made me think about bravery, risk, and how sports writing often captures more than just wins and losses. The column’s title itself — framing “courage” as riding out a 1,600-pound tornado — suggests that the most powerful moments in sports often come from facing danger, uncertainty, or intense pressure rather than guaranteed safety. I find that idea compelling, especially now, when many athletes are dealing with off-field pressures (social media scrutiny, public expectations, mental-health issues, etc.). From the article, three ideas stood out. First, it portrays athletic courage not just as physical toughness but as emotional and moral strength — the guts to step into chaos and still perform. Second, it makes me reflect on how sports writing can romanticize struggle and adversity: the “tornado” becomes a metaphor for fear, risk, or judgement, and the athlete becomes a kind of heroic figure for simply enduring. Third, it raises the question of what counts as “success”: is success only winning, or is it surviving — or even being brave enough to show up when things are unfair? In terms of sports media more broadly, I’ve noticed more writers lately focusing on the mental health and personal battles of athletes rather than just stats and performance. That shift fits with the column’s emphasis on inner struggle and courage. But it also makes me wonder whether those stories sometimes get turned into drama or spectacle, reducing real people to cautionary tales or inspirational tropes. Discussion question: When a sports column frames an athlete’s challenge as a “tornado” to be ridden out, does that help us empathize — or does it risk turning real struggle into a romantic metaphor that glosses over deeper issues (like mental-health, unfairness, exploitation)?Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-21st-weekly-post-2/This week, gender equality in sports media stood out to me, especially after reading Venus Williams’s letter. There has been a lot of talk about pay and coverage for women’s sports again, mainly because so many leagues are growing but still don’t get the same media attention as men’s leagues. I also noticed more stories calling out how women athletes often get treated as an “add-on” instead of being covered with the same seriousness. Both of these trends connected strongly to what Venus wrote and to what we’ve discussed in class about power, visibility, and who gets to control the narrative in sports. From the reading, three main things stood out to me. First, Venus talked about her own fight for equal prize money in tennis and how long it took for tournaments to finally change. Second, she explained that sexism is not only a women’s issue, just like racism is not only a Black issue. She made it clear that men have to take part in fixing the problem or nothing will change. Third, she pointed out that equal pay in one sport doesn’t solve the larger problem. There are still huge gaps in smaller tournaments, in other sports, and in the way media covers women athletes. Even with progress, the gap is obvious in how often women’s sports get overlooked. One thing that was confusing to me is how slow change still is, even with athletes like Venus constantly speaking out. It made me think a lot about why equal pay isn’t enough on its own if media coverage and investment don’t grow with it. Discussion question: If top events like Grand Slams now offer equal prize money, but media coverage and sponsorship still favor men, what should sports organizations and media focus on next to actually move toward equality?Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-21st-weekly-post-2/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-21st-weekly-post/This week, gender equality in sports media stood out to me, especially after reading Venus Williams’s letter. There has been a lot of talk about pay and coverage for women’s sports again, mainly because so many leagues are growing but still don’t get the same media attention as men’s leagues. I also noticed more stories calling out how women athletes often get treated as an “add-on” instead of being covered with the same seriousness. Both of these trends connected strongly to what Venus wrote and to what we’ve discussed in class about power, visibility, and who gets to control the narrative in sports. From the reading, three main things stood out to me. First, Venus talked about her own fight for equal prize money in tennis and how long it took for tournaments to finally change. Second, she explained that sexism is not only a women’s issue, just like racism is not only a Black issue. She made it clear that men have to take part in fixing the problem or nothing will change. Third, she pointed out that equal pay in one sport doesn’t solve the larger problem. There are still huge gaps in smaller tournaments, in other sports, and in the way media covers women athletes. Even with progress, the gap is obvious in how often women’s sports get overlooked. One thing that was confusing to me is how slow change still is, even with athletes like Venus constantly speaking out. It made me think a lot about why equal pay isn’t enough on its own if media coverage and investment don’t grow with it. Discussion question: If top events like Grand Slams now offer equal prize money, but media coverage and sponsorship still favor men, what should sports organizations and media focus on next to actually move toward equality?Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-21st-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-14th-weekly-post-2/Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-14th-weekly-post-2/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-14th-weekly-post/This week, two things in sports media stood out to me. The first is how fast everything is moving toward streaming. It feels like every major network is trying to build or buy a streaming option, and it connects to what we’ve talked about in class about how the business side of sports shapes what fans actually get to see. The second thing is the growing concern around sports gambling and how closely it’s tied to media coverage. Several outlets have pushed back on how leagues and media companies are partnering with betting platforms, and it raises real questions about ethics, bias, and whether journalism can stay independent when gambling money is so involved. These trends fit a lot of what we’ve discussed about media power, gatekeeping, and how money decides what stories get told. It also made the assigned podcast more interesting to listen to. Three things stood out to me from the episode with LeBron and Bronny. One was how openly they talked about legacy and the pressure Bronny feels growing up in a spotlight he never chose. Another was how casual the podcast felt — almost like entertainment rather than journalism — which made me think about how podcasts blur those boundaries. The last thing that stood out was how they addressed the public’s view of Bronny and the constant conversation about nepotism. It made me think about how media framing can shape how an athlete is understood before they even get a real chance to prove themselves. One thing that confused me was figuring out how much of the conversation was authentic and how much was shaped to manage their image. Discussion question: How do we tell when sports media is doing real journalism versus promoting a certain narrative or brand, especially with podcasts and athlete-driven content?Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-14th-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-3/This week in sports media, one story that stood out to me was the continued coverage of how Caitlin Clark’s rookie season affected WNBA viewership. Even though the season is over, networks are already planning how to build next year’s broadcasts around her impact. Another topic that caught my attention was ESPN’s discussion about the level of danger athletes face in the NFL, especially after several major injuries this weekend. Both of these stories connect to how sports media talks about toughness and risk, which ties into this week’s reading. In “Courage is Riding Out a 1,600-Pound Tornado,” Jerry Izenberg focuses on Freckles Brown, a rodeo bull rider who built his career around facing extreme physical danger. Three things from the reading stood out to me. First, Izenberg treats courage as something you can’t really measure, even though people try to compare it. Second, Freckles reached his peak at forty-six, which goes against the idea that athletes only succeed when they’re young. Third, the piece shows the shift from old rodeo culture to a more modern version, yet Freckles stayed the same, which made him feel authentic and grounded. When I compare that to sports media today, I notice similar patterns. The media decides which athletes are “brave,” which moments are “tough,” and which risks are acceptable, even though the reading suggests that courage is more personal and not something to rank. A question I have for the class is: How much influence should sports media have in shaping the way we think about courage, especially when those stories can make real physical danger seem normal or expected?Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/october-28th-weekly-post-3/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-30th-weekly-post/Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-30th-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post-2/Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post-2/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post/Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post-3/Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-16th-weekly-post-3/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-9th-weekly-post/Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/september-9th-weekly-post/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/personal-relationship-with-sports/I grew up playing many sports, including soccer, tennis, and lacrosse. I do believe that being a part of a team sport has shaped me into who I am today physically and mentally. What got me into these sports originated from sports media. I would watch athletes on TV or any forms of news where I got inspired to try out the sport. Specifically for tennis, I remember watching Maria Sharapova on TV and thinking about how I wanted to just like her. Social media in itself also motivated me. Not even having to do with famous people, people that I knew my age would post about their soccer and lacrosse tournaments and I got to see how fun it was to be on a team sport and play a sport that is enjoyable. For lacrosse, I didn’t try it until late high school because I wasn’t exposed to it before. But, because I saw through social media that so many people I knew enjoyed it, I figured I would try it myself. Soccer on TV was a big one too. Our coach would make us go home and watch the US women’s soccer team on TV because he believed that watching them would help us with our skills and seeing how good they are at it. Through all of these examples, the media has definitely shaped my relationship with sports in all different ways, yet still gives the same relationship outcome. My favorite sport was probably tennis, because it was a team sport but independent at the same time.Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/personal-relationship-with-sports/https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/426954/uploads/082560e9-08e1-454f-9053-0f4943f11d02.pdfThu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/426954/uploads/082560e9-08e1-454f-9053-0f4943f11d02.pdfhttps://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/the-first-thing-going-on-in-sports-media-this-week-that-interests-me-is-tcus-win-against-unc-in-the-first-football-game-of-the-season-this-fits-with-what-we-discussed-in-class-because-last-class-we/Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/the-first-thing-going-on-in-sports-media-this-week-that-interests-me-is-tcus-win-against-unc-in-the-first-football-game-of-the-season-this-fits-with-what-we-discussed-in-class-because-last-class-we/https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/august-26th-weekly-post/Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0100https://laneybarrymore.journoportfolio.com/articles/august-26th-weekly-post/https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/426954/images/c22d0709-6339-44af-895f-cbdcec0859d3.pngThu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/426954/images/c22d0709-6339-44af-895f-cbdcec0859d3.pnghttps://tcu360.com/2024/11/08/tcu-senior-is-revolutionizing-the-photo-sharing-industry/A TCU student is transforming the photo-sharing industry with pIcD, an app that utilizes facial recognition technology to securely share images with friends. Maverick Cavanaugh, a senior finance and accounting double major, has been working alongside his father, Mark, and also supported by his sister, Trinity, a TCU graduate and former student-athlete and his mother, Tara. The app launched on Aug. 24, aiming to target college-aged students. When you and a friend follow each other, any photos tak...Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://tcu360.com/2024/11/08/tcu-senior-is-revolutionizing-the-photo-sharing-industry/https://tcu360.com/2024/11/06/continuously-refined-exploring-a-holistic-lifestyle/Seniors Shayna Osborn and Sicily Shaw share their health journeys to inspire women on their paths to well-being through their podcast, “Continuously Refined,” which explores natural healing processes through functional medicine. After facing ongoing health challenges, Osborn and Shaw connected, both having spent years seeking answers from doctors about the root causes of their issues.  Osborn and Shaw felt there was not enough information available or enough people who could relate to their expe...Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://tcu360.com/2024/11/06/continuously-refined-exploring-a-holistic-lifestyle/https://tcu360.com/2024/10/10/tcus-new-10-minute-delivery-service-transforms-student-life/Snag, a new 10-minute delivery service, launched at TCU this fall.  Snag, the delivery app, promises to bring everything from chips and energy drinks to ice cream, groceries and meals to TCU students within 10 minutes of the order. TCU is one of 11 campuses part of the Snag network. Of those, Snag opened five campuses this school year. Snag started in 2020 at the University of  California Santa Barbara, and new locations have been opening each year since.  Snag keeps its products in-house, so th...Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://tcu360.com/2024/10/10/tcus-new-10-minute-delivery-service-transforms-student-life/https://tcu360.com/2024/10/07/two-tcu-alums-open-a-french-inspired-study-spot-bringing-a-little-paris-to-cowtown/Marché Bleu, a French-inspired cafe and market, opened its doors in Clearfork on July 26. The cafe is owned by Jason Helm, Taylor Huang and Matt Thompson. Thompson and Huang graduated from TCU in 2019 and participated in the BNSF Neeley Leadership Program.  “We wanted to create a spot where people could quickly grab a coffee or relax in a calming atmosphere to get some work done,” Huang said. Marché Bleu features a range of everyday essentials, including snacks, coffee, wine, gourmet foods and g...Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://tcu360.com/2024/10/07/two-tcu-alums-open-a-french-inspired-study-spot-bringing-a-little-paris-to-cowtown/https://tcu360.com/2024/09/12/noble-a-womens-faith-fitness-ministry-comes-to-tcus-campus-this-fall/A non-profit fitness and faith ministry for young women, founded by a TCU alum, launched a chapter on campus this fall.  Noble Fitness Ministry is a body image, fitness and faith program that aims to transform how young women view themselves through a biblical lens. The program made efforts to spread the word to women at TCU and has now become an official campus club, making it more accessible to students. Noble is for women looking for a community in which they can feel a sense of belonging, f...Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100https://tcu360.com/2024/09/12/noble-a-womens-faith-fitness-ministry-comes-to-tcus-campus-this-fall/