The Women in Sports Conference, hosted by Sport Management students on March 25, aimed to uplift women in sports, including those in media.
Women’s sports are getting attention in the media and are becoming popular, according to keynote speaker Lesley Hawkins, a leadership developer.
“I mean, the fact that Amazon Prime has got [women’s] hockey coverage, it just blows my mind,” she says. “[I] would have never imagined that a few years ago.”
That media coverage shapes the perspective of how audiences view women’s sports, according to Abi Ansell, event co-chair.
She advises journalists to approach women’s sports or women in sports with the equality and respect that they deserve.
Ansell says it should not be about getting “the gossip or get the juice or the tea” about women.
“I would say in a weird way, watch what you ask,” she said. “You know, you never want to get too personal with anybody, but especially women in sports.”
Aidan Caprietar, the other event co-chair, says media should get involved in women’s sports from the start and become a part of its growth to uplift the women involved.
“Coming to these events, coming to these games, these tournaments, these leagues of women’s sports at the ground level, the community level, but also the pro level, and just helping to build it from the bottom,” he said.
That can be done through social media, according to Hawkins.
“So the responsibility on the media is not just to focus on what’s on TV, but what’s on YouTube, what’s on Amazon, what’s on TikTok and Instagram and all the other platforms that exist today,” she said.
“So, the more we talk about it, the more platforms that we talk about it, the better it is for the overall growth of the game.”
According to a Women’s Sport Growth Engine study, 65 per cent of people watch women’s sports and events on live TV, 49 per cent follow on social media and 36 per cent listen to podcasts to get the latest news on women’s sports.
The Durham College Women in Sports conference hosted three panels, ranging from community sport, to entrepeneurship and professional sport.
Guest speakers included Olivia Flanagan, host for the Oshawa Generals, as well as industry representatives from the NHLPA, Forge FC, Total Female Hockey, Armstrong Hockey, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, HOOPQUEENS TO and Hockey Canada.