Talking Sports: Lean In Ladies, Experts Say

By Erin Connor

Media and journalism professionals advised students Friday at Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications third Annual Career Fair. 

The “Let’s Talk Sports” forum covered the uncertainty of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), standing out in the field of sports journalism, and stereotypes within the industry.

Anthony D. Henderson Sr., HU’s athletic director, opened the conversation as a special guest speaker: “When you’re looking for your opportunities, you never know where they’re going to come from. Pick up skills that are transferable because you never know exactly where you’re going to end up.”

His statement rang true throughout the hour as the panelists detailed their journeys to careers in sports, providing aligning words of advice and reassurance. 

“There’s a lot of commonalities at this table,” said James Ford, Ph.D., a Hampton alum. “All of us have a different journey with how we got to where we are.”

Brian Smith, sports director of WVEC 13 News Now, Norfolk, and Ford, an assistant professor at SHSJC, both got their start at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Smith said he began his career as a photographer, sports reporter and fill-in anchor for WRIC-TV, Richmond in 1985 and joined 13News Now in 1993. 

“Don’t be afraid to walk away from something,” said Smith. 

Craig Loper, sports director of WAVY10 and a University of Oregon graduate, shared a similar message of not being afraid when it comes to the future of the journalism industry following the changes in DEI: “Do we need more Black people in certain spaces? Of course. But at the same time, don’t let anything scare you away from what you want to do.”  

With a panel of all men, moderator Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, a third-year journalism major, sports management minor, questioned them about stereotypes and barriers that surround the inclusion of women in sports media. 

“A lot of time you will look and see it as a male-dominant field,” said Brian Jenkins, director of football operations at Hampton University. 

“For all of you all [women], take that challenge. Go for it.”

At the end of the discussion, the crowd of around 50 Scripps Howard students and other attendees engaged in a question-and-answer portion with the panelists.

“What advice would you give to those that don’t know exactly what they want to do?” said Miles Hayter, a first-year journalism student at Hampton. 

“Find a good mentor and let them help you,” said Ford. “You have to be persistent, and you have to be committed.”

The overall message that was presented to Hampton University students was to stay true to yourself despite the uncertainty we’re faced with given the new presidential administration. 

“You have an obligation to pass it on,” said Smith. “Because of us as a culture, we owe it to ourselves. We owe it to pass on this knowledge.”

The writer is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications