Public Relations and Sports: Work Force Demographics in the Intersection of Two Gendered Industries

Abstract

Sports, largely considered the domain of men, and public relations, recently associated with women, intersect in college sports public relations, known as sports information. This study examines that intersection by using an online survey to explore the demographics, division of labor, earnings, career longevity and satisfaction among sports information practitioners and comparing results to data for public relations and sports journalists. The findings suggest that sports information is, unlike other areas of public relations, a staunchly masculine profession. Women are largely excluded from high-status positions and more often report less job satisfaction and shorter tenures than men. This study also provided the opportunity for exploratory research on racial minorities in sports information, with the findings showing sports information as a racially homogonous profession.