Friday, Nov 13, 2015
Lead anchor Amy Fadool told Rider students what it's like to be a female journalist for a major sports show
by Aimee LaBrie
For a class called Sports Media Relations, you might assume interested students would trend toward men, but you would be incorrect. Of the 26 people enrolled in the upper-level course, almost half are women.
This semester, all of the students had the privilege to hear firsthand from a leading female in the industry when Amy Fadool, one of the lead anchors on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, was invited to class. Besides being a well-known Philadelphia sports media figure, Fadool is also an energetic and charismatic speaker who was candid about the challenges faced by women in the industry.
"She connected well with the women in the class," says senior Kristie Kuschyk '16
, who is majoring in public relations with a minor in sports studies. "She discussed how being a female in the industry does have obstacles, but that you can overcome them if you are dedicated and driven."
Fadool, who is an Emmy- and Associated Press Award-winning anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet, talked about her career trajectory in the field of sports media, including the challenges she faced as a female reporter trying to break into an extremely competitive (and largely male) industry.
"The media industry is still typically male-dominated, and this is particularly true in sports media, " says A.J. Moore, associate professor of journalism and director of Rider's internship program. "Not only do women coming out of college have to prove that they have the maturity to do the job, they have to overcome the perception that women and sports don't go together. Fadool was candid about her experiences."
An avid field hockey player in high school and its two-time captain, Fadool graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Kentucky and worked her way up from junior reporter to lead anchor on one of the most watched shows on the network. She also hosts select Phillies and Sixers pre, in-game and post game shows and works on a soccer magazine show called "State of the Union."
"She was very engaging, energetic, and the students fed off of her positive energy and charisma," Moore says. "She provided a very good model for our female students who are looking to enter into the sports media industry."
Senior digital media major Joseph Lincoln '16 found her visit to be useful. "It was a great opportunity to talk with a working professional in a highly-coveted field. Her path to success and her anecdotes were informative, entertaining and inspiring," he says. "She offered insight about what to expect if we choose this path and she even spoke with me personally afterward about internships or reaching out to her for a shadow day."
On Wednesday, Nov. 18, students will receive expert advice from Tom McCarthy, the Philadelphia Phillies television announcer, and the announcer for Fox TV's NFL games.
"It is important for them to hear from people who are excelling in the careers the students are interested in," Moore says. "The guest speakers offer them another perspective; a way to see what it's really like to be in that world. That, in turn, will assist the students in making more informed career decisions as they move into the professional realm."