GAME CHANGERS ments, here I am, a full-time female sports reporter for The Brunswick News. I’m not like the average sports reporter — I’ve got spunk, sass, and passion. You need those to be a female in this industry. Like one of the most popular phrases of the last year — “it’s essential.” Since arriving in the Golden Isles almost two years ago, this community has embraced me and grown to enjoy my golf and football columns along with local high school coverage. I’ve gained some memories that will be carried with me forever because this is where it all started for me.
Women and sports: They just belong
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WORDS BY SAVANNAH RICHARDSON
Spoiler alert: Women are taking over the sports media industry, one milestone at a time. Women in sports are a rare breed, we love makeup, and know what a middle linebacker is — it’s a unique balance, I know. So when I was asked to write this
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column about what it meant to be “a woman in sports,” I jumped at the chance — I mean who wouldn’t. My immediate reaction was, “oh, this will be easy, because I love what I do,” then I thought about how important my role is as a female sports reporter, and I had to reflect on what this role means. Not just to me, but to the future females who want to be in this industry.
Granted, I’ve covered sports since I started college in 2013 and haven’t looked back, but The Brunswick News was my first “big girl” job. It’s challenged me in many ways, but it’s rewarded me far more. From Brunswick High’s football coach Sean Pender teaching me about the Xs and Os in the film room to Harris English and other local PGA Tour players taking time to talk with me throughout the last two years, they welcomed and embraced who I am as a writer. I could go on and on, but we’d be here for days. This community has worked through my golf column’s growing pains and listened to me be “a homer” about Georgia football. And without the RSM Classic, I wouldn’t know how incredible golf is. There are so many inspirational athletes and people in this community, and I honestly hit the jackpot.
There have been countless times I’ve been told I wasn’t good enough, didn’t belong, how I, a woman, would never understand football like a man ... and still, I wouldn’t trade being in this industry for anything.
So I go back to the question of what it means to be a female in this world, I think the best way to describe it is, and this may sound cliche, but priceless.
At the same time, I’ve received just as many positive comments and support — especially here in the Golden Isles.
It also means a lot of hard work and sacrifices. It means breaking the mold of old stereotypes and proving yourself every single day.
Through all those good and bad com-
