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For this assignment, I chose Instagram as my platform because it reflects how sports culture is experienced today \u2014 visually, instantly, and emotionally. My persona, titled \u201cBehind the Bench,\u201d<\/strong> highlights the often-unseen side of collegiate athletics: the media work, preparation, and leadership that shape women\u2019s basketball programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than centering my persona on being a fan, I wanted to showcase my real-life involvement in sports. My posts focus on storytelling, visibility, and the strategic effort behind every piece of content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each post was created intentionally. Game-day graphics emphasize preparation and excellence. Behind-the-scenes editing photos highlight the work that audiences rarely see. Leadership-focused captions reinforce the importance of representation in women\u2019s athletics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was mindful that sports media does more than entertain \u2014 it shapes perception. The way athletes are framed, promoted, and discussed influences how audiences value them. Through this persona, I positioned myself not just as a content creator but as someone contributing to culture within sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/_capturedbylee\/?hl=en<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A key focus of my persona is visibility in women\u2019s sports. Media coverage directly impacts recognition, opportunity, and growth. By highlighting women\u2019s basketball, I aim to reinforce that these programs deserve consistent attention and professional storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also included reflective moments \u2014 such as empty gyms or preparation shots \u2014 to humanize the work that supports athletes. Sports are often viewed only through competition, but they are also spaces of discipline, culture-building, and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, this persona reflects who I am both online and offline: someone committed to excellence in sports media and passionate about elevating women\u2019s athletics. Social media is more than a highlight reel \u2014 it is a platform for influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through \u201cBehind the Bench,\u201d I aimed to demonstrate that the work behind the scenes matters just as much as what happens on the court. The stories we tell in sports shape how the game \u2014 and the people in it \u2014 are valued.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For this assignment, I chose Instagram as my platform because it reflects how sports culture is experienced today \u2014 visually, instantly, and emotionally. My persona, titled \u201cBehind the Bench,\u201d highlights the often-unseen side of collegiate athletics: the media work, preparation,… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32095,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32095"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":205,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190\/revisions\/205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/opalsimmonssportjournal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Strategy Behind the Posts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Representation, Leadership, and Visibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
More Than Content \u2014 Building Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n