What is your opinion of women in sports journalism?

Question

I don't have a problem with most of them. I know a lot of people out there will say "they don't belong" or whatever, but when I watch SportsCenter, Stuart Scott irritates me far more than Linda Cohn, Michelle Bonner or Suzy Kolber ever have.

Answer 1

I perhaps have more respect for them than male counterparts as a group, because I know they have to overcome more obstacles to reach peaks in their profession. There is a certain degree of bias from the public that says women can't cover a men's support, although that is disappearing. There is the whole locker room issue, which is uncomfortable for both the female reporters and male athletes. (Interestingly enough, isn't it funny how the reverse never comes up?)

Christine Brennan of USA Today wrote a book about growing up as a woman who loved sports that was quite good. I like to describe Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times as one of the five smartest people I've ever met. There are bunches of others. And I agree with your SportsCenter analysis.

Answer 2

I see it this way, as long as the woman knows what she is talking about and has great detail about the sport topic, why does it really truly matter who reports it? I think when men report sport stories, they exadurate the story, when the women get straight down to the point, because women too like sports, and we women know what men want to hear and how they want to hear it. The pretty face and great looks get the guys attention, and when the women presents an intelligence for a sport, it keeps men interested and watching. SO MEN STOP COMPLAINING!

Answer 3

Watching a woman report from the field at a football game turns me off.

While she may have knowledge of the game, her report is totally canned and given to her via teleprompter.

Hardly a reporter at all; just a pretty face and body.

Answer 4

As long as they have knowledge of what they are reporting on, and show it, no problem.
If they are just there to be eye candy, there's a problem.