The Olympic Games

In the Beijing Olympic Games, it was difficult at times for journalists, reporters, and media to gain easy access into the games.  With the rules and regulations in China, sometimes it became very difficult for journalists to report the games.  China had a great luxurious media center for reporters to work, watch the games, and have a place to relax and enjoy their time.  However, in order to enjoy these luxuries, they must past rigorous security, get a visa, and credentials.  This was difficult for some smaller area journalists.  I believe that the London games will be easier for reporters to report.  There will be less pressure on the reporters to accommodate and adjust to the British politics and regulations, than it was for them in China.  London officials have already stated that they will take a more laid-back but secure approach to the Games, which will be completely different from the strict and tight security of the Beijing Games.    

A challenge for the London Games and the media comes with the time difference.  When it came to the games in Beijing, the morning time for Beijing was prime time for those where in the United States.  Therefore, Americans were able to watch the events live and a majority of the major events were held in the morning in Beijing.  For example, Michael Phelps swam most of his meets in the morning, which allowed for Americans to tune in live.  For the Olympic Games in London, the time difference does not benefit the United States.  What would be prime time here in the United States, would be the middle of the night for the Games in London.  Therefore, a lot of tape-delayed events will have to be played in the United States.  The last time they had a lot of tape-delayed events on television were the Sydney Games, with a 15 hour time difference.  NBC saw its ratings drop unexpectedly low do to this conflict.  The media thought that the audience would not care if it were tape-delayed or live.  Therefore, they were not concerned about it.  However, when they saw their ratings drop in the Sydney Games, they realized it might make a difference.  The London Games will again test how American networks televise the Games.  With all the media outlets that are available now and a year from now, it will be difficult for tape-delayed televised events to gain a large audience.  For example, someone can wake up in the morning and find the results of all the events online.  Or they can even watch the events online live, rather than wait for the tape-delayed version.  This will be a huge challenge for London and the United States to coordinate the difference in time.  Also, we have to think of how the journalists and reporters are affected.  Their deadline for articles and news reports will be at odd times when they are in London.  Like stated before, prime time for the United States is the middle of the night in London.  It will be very interesting to see how U.S. journalists and reporters react and adapt to this.  We may see journalists and reporters report more on inside stories rather than the highlights of the events themselves.  We will see in a year the approach that American reporters and journalists take on the 2012 Olympic Games. 

Visit the Official Site of the 2012 London Olympic Games: www.london2012.com/