Women in Sports Media: Brave females breaking new ground
At a time when the accomplishments of women taking on never before held sports media roles should be celebrated, we still at times find ourselves fighting the same age-old battles seen in other aspects of culture and politics.
If you're a woman trying to make a name for yourself as a sports broadcaster or journalist, it's best to be prepared for some resistance – not based on what you can or can't do on the job – but simply based on your gender.
Sports, simply by the nature of the topic, has long been a male-dominated field, whether it be the athletes themselves, coaches or even the people covering sports. While incredible strides have been made in the way of promoting female athletics and coaches, female broadcasters and journalists are just scratching the surface.
But women are taking on new roles in the industry, and for those who follow any sport religiously, that's a good thing.
When Samantha Ponder (pictured above) was named as the replacement on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown for longtime host Chris Berman, the surprise was felt by many who follow the most popular professional league in the United States. But those who have worked with and watched Ponder over the years know that ESPN made the right choice.
Ponder's work on ESPN's College GameDay has been exceptional, and her rapport with fans, athletes and colleagues has always been given high praise.
Of course, there will always be some who feel women have no real place in sports media, outside of sideline or in-game reporters, but that sentiment is slowly being overcome by a group of talented and brave ladies.
The "go back to the kitchen" contingent may not encompass the majority of men who follow sports, but they do make themselves heard at times, particularly in direct contact with media members via social media channels.
How bad is it, and can it be changed? Several high-profile females in sports media shared their experiences and discussed their feelings about this struggle.
This article originally appeared on 
