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Women & Sports Coverage

Women have entered the sports world at all levels, but still only 5% of media coverage is dedicated to them. The organization Women, Men, and Media just released a study looking at how female athletes, themselves, feel about this. We addressed the issue on a recent show; here's what some of you thought...

• "I've come to the inescapable conclusion that the media feed us what they want us to want, not what we, the public, actually do want. I believe there is a market out there for women's sports and the coverage of women's sports. It's just that men's sports are where the money is and it's men who make up the majority of sports fans. I, myself, although I've never been a basketball fan, have watched a WNBA game or two and I find the women's brand of basketball to be more exciting than the men's."
  Linda Andrews, Connecticut

• "Most of the women [athletes] I have seen don't cut the mustard, and that's why they don't get the media coverage. Who wants to watch people who are not even near the top in their field? If they were good enough, they would compete with men. The number one women's tennis player would not stand a chance against the number 100 ranked men's player."
  November 14, 1998

• "I think it is a cop out from those who suggest there is no interest or market for women's sports. To say there is not interest or market appears to me an opinion of those who don't want to extend any personal energy in this direction. Quite frankly, I don't think those involved in sports (business) right now really know HOW to peak interest or market sports to women. It is easy now and the money's rolling in for men's sports. To peak the interest and to market sports for women would impact the schools, the future of women, and the perception of women in general."
  Michele FitzGerald, California