The image of basket-ball in the french sport press(1898-1940). The case of "L'auto" : from a game unknown towards a major sport
This research is based on a corpus of several thousand articles of basketball which are excerpted from the newspaper L'Auto, dominating the market for the sports press on the whole study périod. The first time point is the early appearance in the game the leaves of a french newspaper. The year 1898 marks the birth of basketball in the press when several titles, including La Vie au grand air, coarsely describe some of its caracteristics.The purpose of the study is the analysis of the definition of basketball that is formulated by the press. What image of this sport is diffused by newspaper? The media does not accuratly reflect reality, it is broken mirror. Only few scattered shards reflect a fraction of reality.So, this study shows that representations of basketball which are cinveyed by L'Auto - these scattered shads- can intere in evolution of the practice, how to play. In formulating their own definition of the game, journalists give it a sharpe. The demonstration of this hypothésis is based on two fundamental changes. The early 1920s, the first signatures of journalists appear. In L'Auto, the shape of the practice is changing as these journalistsmutate into genuine preachers.Then their role in the developement of sports is shown.Then the mid-1930s discovers a different baskekball, "capital", american, which shows, in contrast, that the French technique is an insignificant game. Consequently, journalists try to guide practice towards this form of game which shows as highly effective and intellectual. Ultimately, this research intends to show that basketball is evolving under the influence journalists of L'Auto, from a lack of definition towards a recognized from, a major sport