EHF 20th Anniversary - The Changing Face of Handball Media

The Changing Face of Handball Media

In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the European Handball Federation (EHF) Chairman of the AIPS Handball Commission, Günter Pfeistlinger, reflects back on his own personal experiences to look at the evolving world of handball media.

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From typewriters and telex machines to moving information across the globe at a click of a button, development in the area of media and communications has been instrumental in the promotion of handball in Europe.

As we look back and adjust to the realisation that 18 competitive seasons have passed for the EHF, we also need to look at just how much the media coverage at major handball events has changed. Coverage has progressed, it is much better, more precise and more informative; but in addition, it has also become more hectic and unfortunately, the friendly and comradely spirit in the pressrooms with media representatives from many nations has changed.

Back then, for weeks at a time, you were often working together for 10 – 14 hours a day; however, today everything has become digitalised. The pressure has increased and there remains little time for socialising and networking.

Just a few months after the official EHF 20th Anniversary celebrations have taken place, the 10th edition of the Men’s European Handball Championship will begin in Serbia and in the EHF EURO, not to mention the EHF Champions League, and the changes in media have been tremendous. Nevertheless, the progressions have to be categorised into the individual media groups; TV, radio, print journalism, photographic journalism, in addition to the ever-increasing section, internet and new media.

If you compare the very beginnings of the EHF EURO in Portugal to the last major event, EHF EURO 2010 in Denmark/Norway, across both competitions, the number of participants has increased from 12 to 16, the months in which the competition is played has been moved to January and December. The number of spectators has also evolved into a new dimension. Also in terms of media information, press conferences, events for all handball journalists have multiplied.