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World War II
Women start to enter the work force. They are no longer expected to just stay at home, this period of time is the beginning stage of women at work. With the men off at war, it forced women into the workplace and is a turning point for women's rights. -
Jane Chastain -- First Female Broadcaster
Jane Chastain comes onto the scene. Two years out of High School, she starts to make football predictions in Atlanta for WAGA-TV. Originally a shtick, Chastain dedicated time to researching the teams, and making remarkably accurate predictions. Her knowledge of the game allowed her to make impressive picks. -
Lesley Visser Mistaken for Fan
ESPN Reporter Lesley Visser attempted to write a story on Pittsburgh Steelers coach,Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw took Visser’s notebook signed his autograph on the paper and walked away. -
Jeanne Morris
Writer and reporter Jeannie Morris was not given nearly the same opportunity or facilities as men. Women were not permitted to sit in the press box during football games; thus she had to think "outside of the box". When she was covering the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Chicago Bears at the Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota, she literally sat on top of the box and reported the game from there-- during a blizzard. She wasn’t afforded a staff restroom either. -
Title IX Enacted
While not directly related to the field of broadcasting, Title IX was a spark in the women's movement of the 1970s. This legislation stated that men and women should have equal access in the pursuit of education, which encompassed sport. It was a big step towards equal representation in sport between the sexes. -
Roe V. Wade
Another political movement that had an indirect effect on females in the sport business. This supreme court ruling decided that women had the right to have an abortion if they chose to do so. It was another step in allowing women to have a voice in the public. -
Jane Chastain for CBS
Chastain finally made it big, and became CBS's first female sportscaster. However, she was not treated well. They made her tie her hair back and wasn’t allowed to wear makeup. Yes, this was a huge step for women in sportscasting, but she was not respected enough to actually cover sports. She would interview the player’s wives in the stands to talk about their fashion, not sports. Once she became pregnant, CBS assigned her to the non-major sports, and did not renew her contract after one year. -
SuperBowl IX
Jeannie Morris was the first woman to report live from a Super Bowl. It was Super Bowl IX; The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. The Minnesota Vikings -
Yale Women's Crew Protests
The protest of the Yale Women's Crew team was a significant event that would help to enforce the Title IX legislation. Their protest for access to facilities gained the attention of the public, and it led to women in all industries demanding their right to access. -
Amanda Ludtke Court Case
Amanda Ludtke took Major League Baseball to court. After she was not allowed in the locker room at the end of the 1977 World Series. Ludtke was accused of wanting to see the players, instead of interview them. -
Robin Roberts
ESPN hires Robin Roberts to host the primetime coverage of Sportscenter and NFL Primetime. Women in sports broadcasting had come a long way from Chastain, who wasn’t allowed to cover actual games, to Roberts becoming one of the most recognizable and respected female broadcasters. Roberts did play-by-play for collegiate basketball, covered tennis, the NFL, and the LPGA. She was so immersed into all sports, that she is still one of the most well-known female sportscasters in history. -
Linda Cohn First Full-Time U.S. female anchor
Cohn was inspiring to other women in the media as she was nominated for multiple awards. Cohn received the women’s sport journalism award from the women’s sports foundation. Viewers mocked Cohn saying, she would not be so bad if she wasn’t opening her mouth for a living, playing on the fact that she has a larger mouth. Cohn also was nicknamed ‘Butt Head’ by Jim Rome. . Unfortunately women who do not fit the ‘beauty standards’ are mocked by co-workers and fans alike. -
Robin Roberts Awarded for Broadcasting Excellence
Roberts received the “Excellence in Sport Journalism” Award for Broadcasting Media and the “Women at Work” Award for her contribution to the image of women on television and expanding career opportunities for women in sport broadcasting and journalism. She had become a very influential figure in broadcasting and journalism and paved the way for other women in the sport industry. -
Shelley Smith joins ESPN part-time as a reporter
Smith was promoted to full time in January of 1997. Smith does not fit the typical stereotype of sideline sports reporter and received criticism in the media because of it. Viewers said that she, “makes them throw up in their mouth, after already throwing up in their mouth.” She is often referred to as the “Candy Crowley” of sports. Smith devoted her time to writing books about empowering women and young females through sport. Smith released her first book in 1996 and her second in 2000. -
Holly Rowe joined ESPN
As of August 1998 Rowe joined ESPN fulltime, shattering the stereotype that female sports reporters must be petite and have sex appealRowe suffered a lot of negative press on her size. Viewers called her a fat pig and questioned her credibility because of her size. Rowe did not let the negativity bring her down and eventually was nominated for an Emmy in 2015 for Outstanding Sports Personality. -
Pam Ward was the first women to perform play-by-play announcing for a NCAA football nationally televised game.
Ward also received criticism in the media because her voice was very deep and she did not look like the typical female sports broadcaster with her shorter haircut. Despite the criticism Ward continues to work hard in her position. -
Dana Jacobson began working as a cohost on the new show called ESPN First Take
Jacobson continued on ESPN’s First Take until 2011. Then she began working as a news anchor on SportsCenter. Jacobson received a lot of hate online from male viewers saying that “morning news anchors are supposed to be hott.” This ruined her credibility because Jacobson did not have the ideal body image. -
Women Employed in the Broadcasting Industry
87% of reporters during this year are male. 95% of anchors are men and out of the 183 sport talk shows, only 2 had female hosts.
