Up to 15 women are about to take the step into sports broadcasting, courtesy of a never –before seen program from the Andrews government.
Those who are successful will be given the opportunity to take part in the second round of the Change Our Game Making the Call pilot show, set to begin at the end of April.
Aimed to address the lack of gender diversity in sports journalism, the incentive will provide an opportunity to develop skills, and more importantly gain industry connections.
The initial round of the program was exercised in November of last year, with many graduates progressing into valuable industry roles, across numerous sports.
Brihony Dawson is the most notable example of the program, as her opportunities have led her to feature in some important industry roles, including co-hosting the AFLW Grand Final TV show on Channel 31 (digital), amongst a range of other opportunities.
Dawson will be the ground announcer at this week’s AFLW Grand Final at the Adelaide Oval. She endorsed the program, saying in a statement:
“Being part of this program was life changing. It gave me the courage to consider a career in sports broadcasting; something I felt wasn’t possible for me.”
Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence also spoke highly of the program:
“From TV to radio, play-by-play, expert comments and broadcasting from the boundary, courtside or on field, we’re proud to support a program that helps more women get behind the mic."
Other high-profile female names within the industry who offer guidance as part of the program include cricket expert Mel Jones and current Channel 7 boundary reporter Daisy Pearce.
The $7.2 million government Change Our Game initiative aims at making the sports journalism industry a more gender-balanced playing field.
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