Female journalists get viewers on their team

Female sports journalists are becoming more prevalent, with former SportsCenter anchor Robin Roberts, ESPN’s Sam Ponder, and Fox Sport’s Erin Andrews among some of the industry’s most popular journalists.

“It’s definitely more of a man’s world just because that’s how it’s always been,” said KSLA’s Adria Goins.

Goins is KSLA News 12’s “This Morning” anchor but has worked in sports broadcasting for most of her career. She worked for the KSLA sports team for four years and served as its director before moving to her new position two months ago.

“It’s been fantastic, and I still get to help out with the sports department,” she said.

KTBS’ Weekend sports anchor/ reporter Tatum Everett said being taken seriously is the main obstacle for female sports reporters.

“At the end of the day, you have to know what you’re talking about. I feel like people can see right through you when you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Everett said.

A South Louisiana native, Everett grew up playing tennis and watching the LSU Tigers. Though she said she didn’t always take tennis seriously, she has always taken LSU sports, especially football, seriously.

“I was never the most athletic person, but it makes me respect the athletes so much more. It makes what they do so remarkable,” she said.

For Goins, sports have always been part of her life, and she knew she wanted to work in sports journalism early. She remembers sitting in her family’s kitchen along with a committee of coaches, including her dad, watching game film projected on the wall. She said the selfless dedication she saw her father show to his athletes inspired her in her own career.

Though Goins was surrounded by sports, she said her family never pushed her to be involved in sports. She participated in volleyball, track, softball and soccer growing up, eventually earning a soccer scholarship to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. She served as team captain and still holds the record for the fastest goal scored, earning a point 18 seconds into a game. The only rule her parents enforced regarding sports was to always finish the season.

“[Sports] have absolutely taught me

work ethic and it’s translated into my career,” Goins said. The work ethic, she said, goes back to earning trust as a female sports reporter. If the viewers can see a strong work ethic they are more likely to trust the reporter, despite the gender.

Everett said when she talks sports with someone like discussing college football or the NFL her knowledge of the sport gives her credibility.

It’s business. You can’t cheer when you go to a game.

It’s nonstop from the second you get there, and once the game is over with, you’re not done.”

Adria Goins

“They’ll say, ‘You really know what you’re talking about,’” she said. “Yes, I know what I’m talking about. This is what I love to do. I’m not trying to fool anybody.”

A common misconception is sports journalism is always fun, consisting of only watching games and talking about sports.

“It’s business. You can’t cheer when you go to a game. It’s nonstop from the second you get there, and once the game is over with, you’re not done,” Goins said.

Everett and Goins recommend that experience is key for anyone who wants to pursue sports journalism, expressing the importance of internships.

“You’ve also got to have thick skin, especially with social media. Everyone’s an expert online. You’re obviously criticized online. You just have to roll with the punches,” Everett said. Women in sports broadcasting also catch more criticism for the fashion choices in an appearance-driven medium, she said.

“You walk a fine line between being too trendy, wearing what’s good for your figure and being too provocative,” Everett said.

Though both Everett and Goins can appreciate the excitement of covering a game or attending a press conference, they agree pieces focusing on the stories behind the athletes and coaches are the most rewarding.

“I just enjoy the stories that move people in a certain way. The stories you find only in sports really pull at your heart strings,” Everett said. She remembers covering a new coach at East Texas Baptist University whose daughter was born with a hole in her heart. She said seeing the coach keep his emotions together in his career while caring for his daughter was a memorable and amazing story.

“It’s been fun,” she said. “It’s great to be in games and cover action, but the people playing in those games make the job worthwhile. That’s why you do what you do.”

–Tara Bullock