October 2016

 by Leon Mann

Senior Decision Makers In Sports Media Pledge To Do More To Increase Diversity In The Industry

Bosses from BBC Sport, Channel 4, BT Sport and Sky Sports interviewed by Jessica Creighton at D Word 2

Senior decision makers in the sports media have pledged to do more to increase diversity within the industry – working alongside BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) and other equality organisations.

Hundreds of delegates attended the #DWord2 conference on diversity in the sports media on October 24th, 2016 at BT Sport studios in Stratford, to hear a host of high-profile individuals within the business address and discuss the lack of all types of diversity in sports media.

Speakers including Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, Philip Bernie, BBC Head of TV Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, Sports Editor of The Times, Andy Cairns, Sky Sports News Executive Editor, Stephen Lyle, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor for Sport and broadcaster and former Rugby star, Maggie Alphonsi MBE discussed positive initiatives helping to address under-representation, the current shortcomings in the industry, and the need to establish progression in this area.

Some of the facts revealed by BCOMS on the day included the findings of research into broadcast and written coverage of summer 2016’s four major sporting events (Olympics, Paralympics, European Football Championships, Wimbledon).

Examining 456 roles across the media coverage of the tournaments revealed statistics including the following:

  • 12 out of 143 roles given to women across newspapers (8.4%)
  • Only one woman out of 51 sent to Euros (1.2%)
  • Just eight black journalists (non-sports people) across 456 roles (1.75%)
  • Only six roles for BAME women across 456 (1.3%)
  • Out of 44 BAME roles, 19 were filled by former and current athletes (43.1%)

Broadcasters Hugh Woozencroft, Jessica Creighton, Benny Bonsu and Jeanette Kwakye chaired the conference discussions.

BCOMS will now produce a guide on how to address the lack of diversity in the industry and distribute this for free.

The #DWord2 was funded by, and was part of, the FARE network #FootballPeople action weeks and also sponsored by Refresh Films, a diverse sports production company.

Leon Mann, BCOMS Founder and broadcaster, said:

“The #DWord2 was a real success! To see hundreds of delegates come together – including many of the most powerful decision makers in the business – to discuss, debate and come up with solutions to address a lack of diversity in the sports media is another significant step forward in this area.

“The focus now is on the industry taking on board many of the excellent ideas generated by the conference to help change a worrying situation where we have a sports media that is totally unrepresentative of modern society in the UK.”

For more information on the conference and BCOMS please click here.

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 by Leon Mann

D Word 2: The Place To Progress

I get lots of young people asking me how I got my job as a sports journalist. And apart from the obvious – hard work and talent – the most important part of my journey has been being in the right place at the right time. 

Hard work is something I expect everyone with serious ambition to put in. Without it, you’ll fail. That goes for whatever you do.

Talent. Well this is something you are always working on. I see myself as being far from the finished product – and I’m 10 years in!! So I am constantly trying to develop the areas I have done well, but also – more importantly – where I feel I can improve.

Now for the vital part. “Being in the right place at the right time”.

Wow. This is the part I believe a lot of young people need most help with. And I am 200% sure there are incredibly talented and hardworking potential sports journalists out there who need to hone in on getting to the right place, more often.

So, with all of this in mind I am urging young people – well, all people – wanting to get involved in the sports media to come to the D Word 2 Conference at BT Sport on the 24th October. The first event in 2014 was a great success and alongside discussing how we help make the sports media more diverse the networking opportunities are genuinely unrivalled.

At the conference you will be sat with some of the most recognisable sports journalists in the country, the bosses who employ the likes of Gary Lineker, Michael Johnson and Gaby Logan, and also members of the community who are lobbying for positive change in the industry. This is an opportunity not to miss. If you do, you may find yourself waiting another two years for the next chance to make direct contact with decision makers and influencers that could change your life.

My own broadcasting career was kick started by a conversation with a decision maker in 2007. If I wasn’t in the right place at the right time, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t be where I am today. Want to be a sports journalist, too? Get yourself in the right place.

To attend the D Word 2 conference on diversity in the sports media email: info@bcoms.co

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