Shen Bao's Reports from the Far East Games: Enhancement of Female Athlete Participation and Social Image Transformation

In contemporary society, lifestyle and media information are intricately linked, with newspapers emerging as one of the primary mediums for disseminating information. In China, “Shen Bao” has a long-standing history of publication and is widely circulated, offering valuable historical insights for researchers seeking to understand the societal events of the time. This study employs a literature analysis approach, examining the relevant news content of the Far East Games as reported in “Shen Bao,” to observe the development status of women’s sports. The timing of the Far East Games coincides with the publication of “Shen Bao,” making it one of the most prominent sporting events covered by the newspaper. Sporting events often carry tangible or intangible values and are imbued with symbolic and social significance. Concurrently, through an examination of “Shen Bao’s” coverage of the event, it was noted that the participation of female athletes has progressively increased. This study delves into the reasons for changes in gender participation among athletes and presents pertinent factors through the newspaper, thus aiding in the understanding of the evolving perceptions of female athlete participation in media and public spheres. This contributes to contemporary society’s emphasis on gender equality, providing insights for news media on how to effectively utilize different formats and techniques in their reporting to achieve the desired publicity and benefits of sports events.