The audience was eager to ask questions of the panel after hearing five women reporters who cover the DC area’s professional and college sports for the Washington Post* talk about their experiences at a program co-sponsored by SPJ DC Pro and the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies at GU’s Massachusetts Ave. facility on Sept. 25, 2018.
Here are some of the observations captured and tweeted out about “On the Sports Beat: A conversation with women sports reporters from The Washington Post”:
From Gina Garcia of GU,
“There’s a psychological game in sports coverage behind the scenes, how to ask for a phone number of a player, how to approach, 2nd guessing, not looking like the other male sports reporters in a locker room.” @CandaceDBuckner
From Jonathan Make, SPJ DC Pro Chapter President,
“in covering @WashWizards, @CandaceDBuckner notes there can be a lot of waiting for the game to begin, to interview players, etc. ‘I’m still blowing deadlines because when they’re in practice, you have to wait around’ to hear from players. @HoyaJournalism event with @SPJDC”
“some thoughts from @Redskins reporter @ByKimberleyA. there’s not much of an @NFL off-season anymore; it’s a ’24/7 biz.’ of import to many journalists: ‘if you can grab readers who don’t give a damn’ about a particular team, ‘you’ve done your job.’ AND ‘be yourself’ with players.”
“more on being yourself as a sports reporter from @Redskins beat rep. @ByKimberleyA, @SPJDC event @HoyaJournalism. ‘that is what makes me different,’ she says of skin color, finance background. ‘all of the things that make you different: use them. That will set you apart.'”
“on covering sports, ‘when people see that you’re genuine, I think people will let their guard down more quickly,’ @ByKimberleyA tells @AprilBethea of @SPJDC @HoyaJournalism. @avarwallace says ‘act naturally, it’s not like you’re studying’ players. ‘jokes also help.'”
“@ikhurshudyan who covers @Capitals: ‘be authentic, be yourself … doesn’t have to be this just transactional thing.’ know players’ loved ones’ names. if players disagree with coverage, ‘don’t hide from conflict … resolve it, let them yell at me.’ @SPJDC @HoyaJournalism”
“@lizclarketweet rules re locker rooms & more. never apologize, never exploit being a woman. ‘those are my guard rails, and I’m going to be as straightforward’ as possible, won’t feign knowledge she lacks. in Q&A w/ @AprilBethea of @SPJDC/@washingtonpost @HoyaJournalism event.”
“advises @lizclarketweet on sports journalism. don’t be ‘like a dog peeing on his territory’ when establishing yourself. ‘it’s sort of a mistake a lot of young male reporters make.’ this in Q&A w/ @AprilBethea of @SPJDC/@washingtonpost @HoyaJournalism event.”
And back to Gina Garcia,
“A guest tells a story about wanting to write sports 30 yrs ago @chicagotribune when female sports reporters weren’t allowed. She calls the panelists living legacies and says they got their jobs because they are great at what they do. @HoyaJournalism @SPJDC @WashPostDC #sports”
*Kimberley Martin had recently left the Post for Yahoo Sports, but came back to DC for the panel discussion with her former Post colleagues.