If it were up to the big national sports they’d have me and every single other writer out there write about the bounds and leaps that the sport world has made in the chase for equality.
In fact, they’d like the public to believe that it is even right now. The thing is this isn’t the case on the field, in the booth or in the office.
Look don’t get me wrong, yes, there has been an abundant amount of change over the course of time tackling these issues. Around 10 years ago Women’s sports only received a measly 4% of sports media coverage.
Through progress and awareness of the issue today the media has boosted those numbers to a whopping 15% in 2024 according to news outlet Parity.
Now tell me in what universe does 15% of total sports media coverage even come close to being split down the middle even? The media and leagues act as if the gap is closed but it’s not even close. If anything, baby steps have been taken toward the vision of what equality should look like in the sports world.
What’s interesting is that a main contributor to the increase in women’s sports coverage has been the growth of streaming platforms as this allows women to be showcased more often as there are more channels and openings in streaming and most important more eyeballs.
Fans have had a way easier time finding their favorite women’s sports teams thanks to streaming. While promotion is certainly helping make the case for women’s sports, it has not been enough.
Some news organizations have taken it a step further and have invested in women’s sports coverage teams hiring female journalists and commentators. Yet according to a Forbes article exploring a report that came out of the University of Central Florida only 14.4% of professional sports reporters across 100 nationwide outlets were women.
In addition 16.7% of leadership in these newsrooms were discovered to be women. If you are thinking it’s because of a lack of interest, think again. In a study conducted by Zipia.com that was conducted from 2010 to 2021. It found that participation fluctuated between that time. The highest numbers that sports Journalism saw when it came to participation on the part of women was in the year 2017 with 21.16% and the lowest in 2014 with 16.73%.
It’s no secret women’s longevity in the business leaves much to be desired. They don’t leave because they lose interest.They leave the business because of the way they are treated in the work place. They leave because of the incessant sexism, gender stereotyping, and lack of representation.
So I ask again where in the equality, it’s not on the field. The women’s national soccer team has brought more World Cups in than the men’s 4-0. They still get paid less. It’s not in the office, it’s not in sports coverage. So where is it?
I’ll tell you, it doesn’t exist. The sad reality is we aren’t even close to achieving 50-50. I mean seriously, we still have women afraid to get in the business because they are afraid of what people around them might think. Those that do have the guts most of them don’t last more than 10 years. It’s a problem that needs to get solved.
It’s 2025 and everyone is acting like all is well and there is sunshine and rainbows but the truth is we haven’t even put a dent in it. Until we start making women feel totally welcome and give them their flowers when they are great at their job and the pay disparity begins to close it will never be even.
Because this isn’t just an HR issue or a sports issue it’s a cultural issue and we as journalists have an obligation to bring attention to a problem in our back yard.
