News Corp Australia has announced the launch of a new content series this weekend revealing the depths of abuse athletes receive on social media, which will run across two of the company’s sporting brands – Insight Sport and CODE Sports.
The series investigates the impact online comments have on Australian sportspeople – from light-hearted jabs to threats of physical and sexual violence.
Michael Wilkins, managing director – News Sport Network, said: “The targeting of Indigenous players in the AFL over the past few weeks has shown the impact social media abuse has on athletes who give us so much joy and pride in the sporting arena.
“We are bringing together the experience of our sport newsroom and launching this series to tell the stories of our athletes and experts working in this field to make a difference for sportspeople of the future.”
The series will be published across Insight Sport, News Corp Australia’s editorial series into women’s sport, in a special 8-page lift-out in the company’s Sunday state-based mastheads as well as at insightsport.com.au on Sunday, April 16.
The issue is guest edited by Olympian Cate Campbell, and features interviews with Olympic diver Brittany O’Brien who reveals the messages she receives from men commenting on her body, and tennis star Priscilla Hon, who exposes the racist slurs and comments sent to her from gambling punters blaming her for their lost money.
Harvey Norman is the supporting partner of the monthly Insight Sport series.
CODE Sports, News Corp Australia’s sport-only digital masthead, launches a new monthly series called CODE Sport Investigations on Tuesday, April 18 to take a deeper look at the issues affecting the sports Australians love to watch and play.
The first CODE Sport Investigation looks at the devastating effect of social media abuse and how it impacts athletes to put pressure on authorities to take action.
AFL star Chad Wingard opens up on the pain that social media attacks have had on him and how out of hand the issue is becoming. NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker join forces to also call for change, having both been victims of racist abuse on multiple occasions.
CODE Sport Investigations will be led by News Corp Australia’s award-winning journalists including Julian Linden, Jamie Pandaram, Michael Warner and Emma Greenwood.
See also: News Corp Australia reveals new digital sporting destination: Code