Value Added? News Directors’ Perspectives on the Organizational Value of Sports Coverage in Local Television Newsrooms

Local television news directors are responsible for editorial decision-making, staffing, and resource allocation within complex newsrooms. Guided by institutional theory, this study examines how news directors perceive the value of sports coverage and how resource allocations related to sports have changed within newsrooms. Using survey responses from 95 news directors across the United States, the study found that sports continue to occupy an important role within local news operations, particularly when coverage emphasizes hyperlocal storytelling, community connection, and local identity. Respondents described organizational challenges including staffing shortages, hiring freezes, budget constraints, and evolving labor expectations that have influenced how sports journalism is produced. Findings suggest that sports departments occupy an uncertain but strategic position within contemporary local television newsrooms. Rather than preserving sports because of its traditional role, news directors appear to evaluate sports according to its organizational value in strengthening community relevance while adapting to institutional and economic pressures.