Why is it that the only girls who are associated with rugby league and the ones that get all the credibility are the cheerleaders?
But what about the females involved who don’t dance in skimpy outfits, but who go to the games to watch and to report. What about female rugby league journalists?
“No”, I hear you say, they’re just an urban myth, they don’t exist.
Contrary to popular belief, there are a few chicks out there who want to write about the greatest game of all.
But they’re in hiding, scared to tell people what they want to do just in case they get laughed at.
I should know, I’m one of them.
But even my own friends don’t take me seriously when I say I want to be a rugby league reporter.
And for the few females making a go of it, their performance is judged more severely than that of the players. Any minor slip up is criticised and their work ridiculed. Because girls don’t know what they’re talking about, do they?
When I was starting out as a journalist, a fellow female sports reporter told me that talking to players would be easy because basically, “they think you’re stupid. They’ll think you don’t know what they’re talking about,” she told me.
But the interview wasn’t half my problem. It was getting the interview in the first place.
A male friend of mine who is also a journalist was interviewing a rugby league player for a feature story. He had no worries phoning the player and even getting the coaches home phone number.
I, on the other hand, was trying to perform the same task, but I had to jump through more hoops, knock on more doors and sweet talk my way to finally being granted an interview.
For weeks I was on the phone to the team’s media manager, almost daily, asking for permission to interview a certain footballer.
At first I was told no, that it was impossible as the team was too busy, even though I said I was willing to wait a few weeks for an interview.
But after proving myself (see ‘jumping through hoops’ above) I got the interview as I had “passed the test.”
After completing the main interview, I then had to talk to another player in the same team for a secondary interview. It was horrible. He repeated my questions as if he didn’t understand and refused to shake my hand at the end of the interview.
Not only was it infuriating, it was also embarrassing to have a player talk to me like I was an idiot. And this is a person who is in the media a lot and has a huge fan base.
All up, the entire organisation and interviewing procedure took me over 10 weeks. All for a 1000-word feature story.
That was just my experience and I survived.
But I’m sure this sort of demoralising treatment would deter a lot of other young aspiring female journos from pursuing a career as a rugby league commentator.
So guys, we can write and do the job just as well, or even better than you.
Ronda
Guest
just as examples Dr Donna OConnor- Cowboys trainer Wendy Bellamy Tigers accountant Tigers massuese
James
Guest
I look forward to male reporters breaking down the barriers of the famle locker rooms and female players having to shower and change in front of male reporters. I can't think of anything more equal and professional than giving male and female reporters equal access to the locker rooms of both genders. Something tells me hypocrisy will continue to ooze out of the woodwork and only female reporters will be allowed to continue to strip the opposite sex of the basic human right to privacy. Roll on equality - so long as your the correct gender!
Louise Greenhalgh
Guest
Hi there I loved the artical. Im a female RL referee in the UK and have experienced the same attiudes as you towards women in the sport,the best bit though is the realisation of the players when they realise that you know your stuff. I love the sport and I love being a match official and just becase im female I dont think it makes a difference to the way I perform, I attend all the same development workshops, read and apply the same instruction and apply the laws in exactly the same way as the males in the sport, its just there is an element of sexist ideology that exists in Rugby League despite the implementation of equal opportunities and the natural biology of males that makes then unable to critically analyse the image of females in sport. Keep up the good work.
onside
Guest
There is another aspect to Jessicas problem. And I think (gut feel ), as opposed to dont actually know, the reasons are elsewhere.Its a bloke supporter thing,not a player thing.The players reflect a broader attitude towards female journalists in sport in general ,and in Jessicas case,rugby league in particular .I am aware of legislation introduced to give female journalists equal access to male locker rooms as male journalists. The trouble is it is impossible to legislate away entrenched attitudes and feelings. And so this situation is tolerated because there is no choice, rather than broadly welcomed.Its one thing accepting that equal opportunities are part of todays life ,and another thing entirely especiaaly where male sport is concerned to wish it was not so.Welcome to the real world. And as men can now become either a nurse or an airhostess if they so choose, young women can walk the boundary in the AFL interviewing coaching staff.What people think about this is irrelevant. Likewise my personal views are on the subject are moot.But the media are supporter /viewer/reader savvy.The media know just how far to go and still maintain balance.Jessicas battle then is not with the media ,but a broader entrenched view in society. A viewer, male or female might not want a female presenting a story in a male dominated sport that women do not play. Its worth researching. But ofcourse that has been done. Peoples feelings are not always rational.Thats the problem.
Guy Smiley
Guest
Oikee, despite your sweetness and light, you are really telling Jessica to know her place. League has an appalling track record with women. Rebecca Wilson was furious, fed-up, and frustrated particularly by Willie Mason and the Bulldogs and has expressed as much in her columns a few years back. I cannot believe you are telling her to interview cheerleaders - why would a serious journalist do such a thing??
oikee
Guest
And when Cam Smith tells you he hates the 2 referee idea, just smile and then write he hates 2 refs because they catch him all the time for grappling and chicken wings. :)
sunshinecoaster
Guest
Another thought Choose your interviews wisely maybe,look for the guys who are a little bit out of of the square,stay away from the thickos and the walking cliches who wont really say anything different anyway. For examples guys like Steve Price,Alan Tongue,Nathan Cayless are a credit to the code and are always a good listen,they say things that are worth hearing.
oikee
Guest
Just one more word on the subject, please dont let a couple of negative interveiws sway you, try to be different, if the guy wont give you the proper interveiw then talk about it with another player or maybe his wife or girlfriend. Dont be put off because you get a bad response. If you attack the players then the public turns on you. Take a leaf out of Rebbeca Wilsons book, but dont do what she does, she attacks the game ('s) because she cant get her own way. You wont win any friends this way. Cheers.
Roger
Guest
Oh Oikee, thats a bit patronising! Surely Jessica can interview the ACTUAL players as well not just their wives, or heaven forbid, the cheerleaders...what possibly could a cheerelader have to say to an investigative journo?...or do you just want Jessica to help NRL 'spin' their way out of current (reoccurring) problems? Given Watmough and Stewart's allegations re conduct towards women, its a bit tacky and too soon for the NRL spin machine to start showing its a female friendly game. A few years ago after Coffs/Bulldog incident where Catherine Lumby bagged NRL, the NRL brought her into their structure to acheive two things, firstly, if she's aligned with NRL she wont criticise it as much, and secondly, window dressing...again, very tacky!
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
*Stephanie Brantz sorry..lol
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Great insights Jessica. I remember when Willie Mason got in trouble for humiliating a female journalist not so long ago. It's a great shame that women are not treated with respect in league compared with AFL -with the likes of Caroline Wilson, Samantha Lane and Christie Malthouse amongst the most widely recognised AFL reporters and broadcasters. You will be pleased to know that in my sports journalism course there were more females than males. I agree with Oikee to an extent. You should use your frustration and female perspective to your advantage. Talk about the issues men won't talk about. If players don't give you interviews try and talk to their girlfriends..who knows they might just open up to you and give you a scoop? I do know how hard it is for female reporters to gain recognition in any sport. The way Stephanie Branch was treated by the channel nine cricket commentary team was disgraceful. She was already a respected journalist at SBS, but was treated like a high school student doing work experience. She spoke out about how it was hard to get interviews on the sidelines and then when she did the commentators wouldn't cross to her. Good luck Jessica. Keep fighting for the women out there to ultimately change the rugby league and sporting culture in general.
sunshinecoaster
Guest
Good on you Jessica for standing up and being determined to do what you want to do I think its more of this blokey culture in Australia,the facts are womans team sports in this country are treated with contempt and the coverage is appalling,its a dated attitude thats behind the rest of the world For example woman in New Zealand Woman are actually beginning to make a career in Rugby Journalism,Melody Robinson works for the rugby channel in New Zealand,there was another woman journalist but her name escapes me,she used to appear on a show called the Press Box on the Sky Rugby channel Ive also seen woman on setanta sports interviewing Footballers and Rugby players,and i dont mean those giggly little interviews you get on the Footy Show here where the blond says to Craig wing "oh what a big mic mic you have Craig" and the audience goes into hysteria.I mean proper interviews. Stick to your guns,ill be happy to read your articles
oikee
Guest
Jessica, maybe by interveiwing the cheerleaders would be a better angle to take. Like you have mentioned their is women involved in league so why not try to get some good stories from them, i would like to see some good stories from girlfriends and others. Possitive reporting instead of all the negative press that goes on. If you wish to be any good you have to be a little bit different and make people take notice. Cheers. Another area of attack you might try is tell the footballers the interveiw will be at a food outlet. :)
onside
Guest
Women watch rugby league. I dont know the statistical breakdown ,but any advertising agency would know. I wonder if a market research company has any information about female rugby league viewers (and readers) think about female journalists and reporters. Start there, because the research will give you an angle. An in. All sports ,rugby league included, are done to death ,journos trying to either get ,or fabricate a story.There is always a magnetism towards credible journalists.Those that have been around for a while.(I know,its catch 22) So you must find that niche,that specialty nobody else covers. Maybe its young people,maybe its students, I have no idea.There is only so much anybody can write about Rugby League in a very small market.Sweeney Sports Market research are worth a try.In any event,find a point of difference.Gender alone wont do it for you