Discoprins & Powerbrud : A critical discourse analysis of how gender is portrayed in Swedish digital news media during the 2025 World Athletics Championships

Sports journalism is a big part of today's media landscape and previous studies have shown differences in how female and male athletes in athletics are portrayed in sports journalism, but few have been done in a current Swedish context. The aim of this study is to investigate, through a critical discourse analysis, possible differences in how female and male athletes in athletics are portrayed in two different Swedish digital news media during the World Athletics Championships 2025, as well as to investigate whether there are differences in how a commercial source and a public service portray these athletes. The theoretical framework of the study consists of Gender Performativity Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA was also the method used, combined with an initial thematic analysis of 160 articles from SVT Nyheter and Aftonbladet. The CDA was used to analyze 20 articles and showed differences between how female and male athletes were portrayed, in some aspects. The conclusion was that some patterns were found, such as a greater focus on private life and emotions in articles about female athletes and a greater focus on technique in articles about male athletes. Some aspects differ from previous research, such as less use of gender marking words. The results did not show a notable difference between the two sources. By examining the language used in the media coverage, the study contributes to an understanding of how certain gender norms are (re)constructed in sports journalism. The results of the study can in the long run support a more gender-equal media landscape while also highlighting the need for further research in a field that is constantly evolving.