Concussions, Mental Health and LeBron James: Media Portrayals of Activists and Issues in Sports

KENNESAW, Ga. (Oct 20, 2020) — How did a decision by a youth football organization lead to claims they were weakening American society and emasculating American males? Find out this month on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Thought-Provoking podcast as host Shelly Kiser, Communications Manager, talks with David Cassilo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Communication, on media framing and sports.

We’ll also discover whether the media shows support for athletes or organizations making choices to protect health or whether they frame it as another case of creating a “sissy generation,” as one social media user claimed. Dr. Cassilo will explore the health issues related to concussions in football and what his research shows regarding the media portrayals of athletes or sports organizations that act to protect health.

Then we’ll compare two different media portrayals of athletes who spoke out about mental health concerns. Dr. Cassilo will share his research on how those portrayals have changed over time and whether the framing can promote or discourage certain types of activism.

Finally, we’ll look at the media depiction of LeBron James’ activism on social justice issues. Using his research on LeBron James’ activism, Dr. Cassilo will delve into how social media and the brand of the athlete can impact their ability to be an activist or whether they choose to get involved in certain issues.

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