Automation in Sports Reporting: Strategies of Data Providers, Software Providers, and Media Outlets

This study examines how algorithmic processing affects structures and practices in sports journalism in Germany. A multi-level perspective is used to determine which strategies data providers, software providers, and media outlets use to develop automated reporting, which compiles perspectives across the entire line of news production. The results of 11 in-depth interviews show that non-journalistic actors are vital partners in the news production process, as all actors work together in data handling, training, and software development. Moreover, automation can generate additional content such as match and historical coverage to help address shortfalls in capacity. However, given the business case for automation, amateur football (soccer) is currently the only viable candidate for its use. Many actors involved in the process argue that automated content is an added value for their readers, but claim that content quality has to be put before quantity. This means that some media outlets edit automated articles to increase the quality of their sports journalism, but that this is done only on a small scale. Media outlets do not perceive their roles to be changing, but see automation as a helpful tool that complements their work; a few use automatically created articles as a baseline for in-depth reporting. Moreover, the so-called ‘meta-writer’ has not become a reality yet, as data-processing and news writing are still kept separate. This article sheds new light on the use of automation in the sports beat, highlighting the growing role of non-journalistic actors in the news production process

Command and Initiative in North Africa: Patton VS. Fredendall, and the Battle of Kasserine Pass

This thesis will compare and contrast General George S. Patton, Jr. and General Lloyd R. Fredendall throughout their service during the North African Campaign to argue that, had Patton commanded at Kasserine Pass, the battle would have ended as an American victory. Using Martin Blumenson's edited version of the Patton Papers, this study will pull examples from Patton's experience as a leader to decipher the possibilities of his command at Kasserine Pass. Three overall ideas will be covered: Patton's command style, Fredendall's leadership and failure at Kasserine Pass, and the consequences of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's decisions as supreme commander. The analysis of these points will enforce the theory that, had Patton commanded at Kasserine Pass, the outcome would have been a victory instead of a failure

My friends, editors, algorithms, and I: Examining audience attitudes to news selection

Prompted by the ongoing development of content personalization by social networks and mainstream news brands, and recent debates about balancing algorithmic and editorial selection, this study explores what audiences think about news selection mechanisms and why. Analysing data from a 26-country survey (N=53,314), we report the extent to which audiences believe story selection by editors and story selection by algorithms are good ways to get news online and, using multi-level models, explore the relationships that exist between individuals’ characteristics and those beliefs. The results show that, collectively, audiences believe algorithmic selection guided by a user’s past consumption behaviour is a better way to get news than editorial curation. There are, however, significant variations in these beliefs at the individual level. Age, trust in news, concerns about privacy, mobile news access, paying for news, and six other variables had effects. Our results are partly in line with current general theory on algorithmic appreciation, but diverge in our findings on the relative appreciation of algorithms and experts, and in how the appreciation of algorithms can differ according to the data that drive them. We believe this divergence is partly due to our study’s focus on news, showing algorithmic appreciation has context-specific characteristics

Tension between Journalistic and Entertainment Values in Live Soccer TV Commentary: The Commentator’s Perspective

This article examines the tension between journalistic and entertainment values in live soccer TV commentary from the perspective of German commentators. We situate journalistic and entertainment values within the commentators’ wider understanding of their roles as sports journalists and commentators, looking at a specific type of sports journalist who has different responsibilities from the general sports reporter. We asked how soccer commentators assess the role of journalistic and entertainment values in their work, and what constraints they face, such as how the perceived expectations of their employer affect this assessment. We interviewed 28 TV commentators, one radio commentator, and one expert working for relevant German TV channels and streaming platforms, such as ZDF, Sky, and DAZN. While all interviewees see themselves as companions telling the story of the match, most commentators in the sample value journalistic values over entertainment values, a surprising finding in the hyper-commercialized world of sports television. Well-founded journalistic expertise and soccer knowledge are considered most important. However, this assessment depends on factors such as the broadcaster’s guidelines and the nature of the match. In summary, the role of the commentator is either an ‘objective mediator’ or an ‘emotional entertainer’, but this is a balancing act

Command and Initiative in North Africa: Patton VS. Fredendall, and the Battle of Kasserine Pass

This thesis will compare and contrast General George S. Patton, Jr. and General Lloyd R. Fredendall throughout their service during the North African Campaign to argue that, had Patton commanded at Kasserine Pass, the battle would have ended as an American victory. Using Martin Blumenson's edited version of the Patton Papers, this study will pull examples from Patton's experience as a leader to decipher the possibilities of his command at Kasserine Pass. Three overall ideas will be covered: Patton's command style, Fredendall's leadership and failure at Kasserine Pass, and the consequences of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's decisions as supreme commander. The analysis of these points will enforce the theory that, had Patton commanded at Kasserine Pass, the outcome would have been a victory instead of a failure

First Measurements of a New Type of Coreless Cryogenic Current Comparators (4C) for Non-Destructive Intensity Diagnostics of Charged Particles

The non-destructive and highly sensitive measurement of a charged particle beam is of utmost importance for modern particle accelerator facilities. A Cryogenic Current Comparator (CCC) can be used to measure beam currents in the nA-range. Therein, charged particles passing through a superconducting toroid induce screening currents at the surface of the toroid, which are measured via SQUIDs. Classical CCC beam monitors make use of a high magnetic permeability core as a flux-concentrator for the pickup coil. The core increases the pickup inductance and thus coupling to the beam, but unfortunately also raises low-frequency noise and thermal drift. In the new concept from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology the Coreless Cryogenic Current Comparator (4C) completely omits this core and instead uses highly sensitive SQUIDs featuring sub-micron cross-type Josephson tunnel junctions. Combined with a new shielding geometry a compact and comparably lightweight design has been developed, which exhibits a current sensitivity of about 6 pA/sqrt(Hz) in the white noise region and a measured shielding factor of about 134 dB*