The Need to Prove Oneself (Because of Gender) Isn’t Really Necessary

This video brings up several points about how female broadcasters are treated and viewed in sports media. It calls attention to some of the sad truths behind women in the industry and what obstacles they have to overcome to be treated like their male counterparts. The video also proposes some insightful solutions to how women can be taken more seriously in the sports broadcasting world.

However one idea that several women in this film suggest is that their women can prove their competence by being over prepared. Although this is valuable advice, it should be advice that both men and women in broadcasting follow. They bring up the point that women have to extensively do more research in order to seem as qualified as men in the field. They also can’t make mistakes as often as they are more harshly criticized for them and can put their positions in jeopardy. These may be some of the realities women face in a largely male dominated line of work, but I have never been able to come to terms with the, “You’re a woman so you need to work extra hard to be seen as a man’s equal,” argument to achieve gender equality. To me, it is just instilling the thought that women must be inferior to men in some way and they need to compensate for their gender by working harder. It puts obstacles into young women’s minds that don’t necessarily need to be there.

Courtesy of MedlilMediaWatch

Not only do they need to do all of  the hard work that goes into honing your broadcasting skills, but they also have to make it over the gender hurdle. For some, their perceptions of where they can progress in the field will be hindered and not because of their own lack of confidence, but because someone said, “You’re a girl so it’s going to be a lot harder for you to succeed out there.” There will always be women who accept that challenge and become the pioneers in their fields, but not everyone has that tenacity. As a result, much potential is wasted because of the looming prospect of a glass ceiling.

Courtesy of USA Today

Instead, I think the message should be “Work hard,” and not, “Work hard because you’re a woman.” In the end, isn’t a woman more powerful when she’s never even thought of the notion of being unequal to men? I can’t pretend like the challenges discussed in this video aren’t current facts of the industry, but I think the best solutions would not include gender as the problem. If we stop pointing out that gender is the problem than the women of future generations will never even think of those limitations when they aim for whatever goals they can dream of. No one should have to prove anything just because they are a woman.

Does “Female Journalist” Need to Be Said?

One of the reasons I started this website was for the sheer fact that there is not much advice out there for women seeking to join the sports media field. There may be a lot of advice on how to get into this industry in general, but nothing catered directly to women. I’ve always wanted to attend a conference held by the Association for Women in Sports Media, or something similar to the recent Women in Sports Media panel held at the Newseum.

During these panels, a group of women in the field are brought together to share their stories and advise aspiring reporters and journalists, among the many other positions within media. The goal of The 11 Percent is to share more frequent advice, as these panels only happen a few choice times each year. However when these events do happen, the inspiration that comes out of them is extremely valuable.

During the December 6 event in the Knight Studio at the Newseum,  journalists Andrea Kremer, Lesley Visser, Rachel Nichols, Marcia Keegan, Monica McNutt, and Mary Byrne shared their views on the challenges women in the field face today.

Here are some of the highlights of the panel:

Courtesy of Sports Business Daily

 “The state of women in sports media is summarized by the fact that this panel, which features very distinguished journalists, also has an adjective next to it that they are women journalists.” – Mary Byrne, USA Today Sports Managing Editor

 

Courtesy of WJLA

 

“We want to be better journalists and not necessarily female journalists, but at the end of the day I am a woman, and I celebrate that.” – Monica McNutt, News Channel 8 Reporter

 

Courtesy of Goviva

 

“People aren’t born knowing what a linebacker does. If you have a passion for it, you will learn it. It is totally irrelevant what gender you are.” – Lesley Visser, CBS Sports

 
What stands out to me amongst this discussion, is the statement that women shouldn’t be called “female journalists,” but just journalists. We never say, “male journalists,” so why gender brand women? For those unfamiliar with gender branding, it doesn’t just happen in this instance. In women’s sports in general, gender branding is a typical phenomenon as television broadcasts always remind us we’re watching the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament or the Women’s World Cup.

Courtesy of Houston X

Men’s events don’t have this title in front of them and everything from the TV graphics to the announcer’s reminders, tell the public they’re not watching just a game, they’re watching a women’s game. Although there is sometimes a need to distinguish what sporting event is taking place through the use of gender, for journalists, there should be no need to point out that someone is a female reporter. They’re just a reporter.

Hear more from the panelists at the Women in Sports Media event below:

Sports Media Spotlight with Kaitlyn Kaminski

< For this week’s spotlight, I talked to Kaitlyn Kaminski, who has already given herself a great head start into the sports media field. Although she’s still in school, that hasn’t stopped her from getting her foot in the door and gaining as much experience as possible. Currently, she runs her own website, Not Your Typical Jersey Girl, where she discusses sports and a variety of topics, and also has written articles for noteworthy media sources to add to her growing portfolio of sports reporting. Getting started on your career early is something I’ve always been a strong advocate for. Keep reading to hear more from Kaminski about how her early start has proven beneficial for her future goals in sports media.

The 11 Percent: What have been some of your experiences so far in sports media?

Kaitlyn Kaminski: In high school, I would cover some sporting events and go to the games. Within the past couple of years I started getting into baseball (NY Yankees), football (NY Giants), and hockey (NY Rangers).

“Twitter has been amazing allowing me to reach out to people that I would never think to.”

It allowed me to start writing for websites like HoundSports, Sports Rants, and The Post Game.

The 11 Percent: What made you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in this field?

Kaminski: I have always known journalism was what I want to do. I remember watching Ernie Anastos broadcasting the news and I told myself that I wanted to do the same thing. Sports has always been something that I would watch with my family-mainly my dad, and it became a huge part of my life. “Sunday Fundays” as I like to call them now revolve round watching sports with my family and friends.

The 11 Percent: Where do you see your career going? What are your biggest long-term and short-term goals?

Kaminski: I see my career going far.

 “I know it sounds cliche, but I do not settle for anything. I like to set goals for myself and like to finish what I start.”

My biggest long-term goal is to work for ESPN and show women everywhere that they can do the same thing. My short-term goal is to find more projects that allow me to expand my horizons in the “sports world.”

The 11 Percent: Do you find it more difficult for a woman to be in this field?

Kaminski: I think it is difficult for a woman to work in this field, but I do not think it is as bad as it used to be. I actually did a story on my website www.notyourtypicaljerseygirl.com discussing this topic. However, it is nothing that a woman cannot handle. Any career that has a male dominant workplace and a woman joins- she will endure stereotypes and harder times.

“The cookie-cutter image and being a tall, skinny, blonde are what people think of as women getting jobs in this industry and I think that needs to change.”

The 11 Percent: What made you join the Association for Women in Sports Media? Are you a part of any other groups of this kind?

Kaminski: I was on LinkedIn and saw that it was a suggested group. I decided to join, as I think it is important that woman unite  and mark their mark in this industry.

The 11 Percent: You write for the Huffington Post, Sports Rants, Hound Sports, and the Post Game. What made you decide to get started on your career this early on?

Kaminski: I have always been a person who has zero patience. I do not see a point in waiting until I am in college to start in this industry. I believing in start early on everything that I do. The more experience the better and I like knowing that I can make an impact writing even though I am only in high school.

The 11 Percent: How did you obtain these writing positions? Any advice for those who are looking to get started writing or get an internship?

Kaminski: I owe a lot of my success to Twitter. I posted an article that I wrote for my friends to read and the next thing I knew I had a  direct message to write for HoundSports. The other positions were from word of mouth and me e-mailing different places.

“If you are looking for an internship E-MAIL. I cannot reiterate that enough. You never know who is on the other end of the computer reading your resume and I think that is the greatest thing ever.”

You have to stay persistent and send a follow up e-mail if you do not hear anything just so you know the person/company acknowledged your e-mail and got it.

The 11 Percent: How did it feel when your first article was published?

Kaminski: It was amazing! My first published article was on The Huffington Post on why I want to study journalism. They tweeted my article out on their twitter accounts and the responses I got back were overwhelming. People from all over the world were retweeting the link and commenting on my article. It was truly like Christmas morning.

The 11 Percent: What teams do you root for and how did you first become interested in sports?

Kaminski: New York Yankees, New York Giants, New York Rangers.

My dad always had some game on ESPN or the YES Network, my twin, Kayleigh, and I just started watching religiously within the past couple years.

The 11 Percent: What challenges do you think you may face as a woman in sports. How will you overcome them?

Kaminski: I face being discriminated that I do not know anything because I am a woman.

“People think that only guys know sports and that is not true. I plan on proving people wrong one day.”

Watch out world! 🙂

Sports Media Spotlight with Jessica Quiroli

Named by espnW as one of the “Ten Women in Sports to Follow,” Jessica Quiroli is not only a staff writer for Minor League Ball, but has her own website, “Heels on the Field” to go into the sport even more in-depth.  She has written for numerous other media outlets, but throughout her career has kept her love of minor league baseball at the forefront of her coverage. In today’s Sports Media Spotlight, Quiroli shares her background with us, as well as why she decided to start her own blog and get to where she is today.

The 11 Percent: What would you consider your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

Jessica Quiroli: Creating something of my own, in a very tough and crowded industry. Hearing from girls that say I inspire them. Covering an area of baseball-the minor leagues-where there are very few women and plowing through horrible treatment. Having Melissa Ludtke tell me she loved the name of my blog. Speaking at the baseball Winter Meetings.

The 11 Percent: You are the creator of “Heels On The Field.” What made you decide to create your own blog?

Quiroli: I needed an outlet outside of my professional baseball writing to say what I wanted to. The blog has made me a better writer, because even when I’m not working, I’m writing.

The 11 Percent: What has the response to your blog been like?

Quiroli: Mostly positive through the years. But one reporter called the name ‘provocative’, which I hated. And a woman I’d admired in the business shunned me after finding out the name of it. Literally ignored my emails and ignored me to my face.

“All those things did was show me I needed to be proud of myself no matter what. And to always encourage others, male and female.”

The 11 Percent: What do you like about covering Minor League Baseball? What got you involved in that area of the sports industry?

Quiroli: Watching the process. The minor leagues is the workshop.

“You’re seeing the real sweat and heart of baseball.”

I started writing for a baseball website just to try it. I seemed to take to it pretty quickly and I was a good student. I wasn’t intimidated by the difficult aspects, which is very important to succeed.

The 11 Percent: What is the hardest part about your profession?

Quiroli: The hours. A normal personal life and schedule is difficult.

Quiroli interviewing a member of the Trenton Thunder, affiliate of the New York Yankees

The 11 Percent: What has your career path been like thus far?

Quiroli: I haven’t had a map or some grand plan. I do what I love. I work at it. And I never stop seeing myself as a student. The path has been unpredictable, sometimes extremely difficult and exhausting, but mostly exciting, fun, and rewarding.

The 11 Percent: Any advice for anyone seeking to join the sports media field?

Quiroli: Embrace new media but don’t lose sight of the traditional, the purity of the craft of sportswriting.

“Realize how HUGE the industry is now and try to find your own niche, your own voice. Study writing. Study everyone around you.”

Ask questions, but also figure things out on your own other times. I’ve gotten lost trying to find the clubhouse, gotten names wrong, did interviews with little research. But I learned from my own mistakes, and that gave me confidence.

Quiroli speaking with a member of the Brooklyn Cyclones, affiliate of the New York Mets

The 11 Percent: How did get interested in sports and what made you want to work in the field?

Quiroli: I was a baseball fan, but I think I always knew I wanted to be a writer. The more I did it, the more I loved it. So I just worked harder. I grew up a Phillies fan.

The 11 Percent: What would you say to someone who thinks that women don’t know about sports as much as men?

Quiroli: To get over it.

The 11 Percent: Do you think women get treated differently than men in this field?

Quiroli: Of course. But that’s never stopped me or all of the women who came before me, and kicked down doors for us.

“We just keep on doing that, by working hard, standing up for ourselves and each other, having a great sense of humor, and remembering to follow our passion.”

Quiroli covering the Phillies minor league camp

You can follow Heels on the Field on Twitter at https://twitter.com/heelsonthefield as well as check out her page: http://www.highheelsonthefield.net/