Women in sports journalism.

Abstract

WOMEN IN SPORTS JOURNALISM By Sara E. Swanson This thesis is an exploration of women in sports journalism and the challenges they face when entering the locker room. It begins with an introduction focused on the history of women in sports journalism. Following the introduction, there will be a discussion in literature review format of the various challenges the women have faced. Many of the early female sports reporters encountered various levels of treatment upon entering the locker room. Some were physically assaulted. Others were sexually abused or challenged by the players in sexually inappropriate ways. The literature review focuses on those types of moments in journalism history and explores how they shaped the industry and the character of women working in sports journalism. This paper also includes research and interviews with women currently working in sports journalism in order to find out the differences between those early years and today. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to all of the following people who assisted in this research: Professor Craig, Professor Guerrazzi, and Professor Baldwin for being the committee for this paper and advising the researcher at every step; John Shader for all his contacts that he so willingly shared with the researcher; and Professor Stover for helping the researcher develop the idea for this paper. Also, a big thank you to all the women who participated in the interview process of this research paper: Mindi Bach, Laura Behnke, Ann Killion, Gwen Knapp, Janie McCauley, Joan Ryan, Staci Slaughter, Susan Slusser, Michelle Smith, and Ailene Voisin.