THE WOMEN OF HOUSTON'S SPORTS TALK MARKET
Written by: Craig SheltonDate Posted: 06/30/2010
Rather than grow their listening base by expanding the makeup of their hosts, collectively sports talk stations are stubbornly staying the course of mostly allowing middle-aged white males to earn a living while pursuing their career goals.
"MAKE MY DAY"!
Why are women not getting more opportunities in the local sports media environment while national sports outlets such as ESPN are trending just the opposite. The shortsightedness of local GM's and program directors is all too apparent. Even in these current times with sports talk radio’s collective market share in ratings being sub-par, these guys remain entrenched in their outdated approach to business. As much as they don't want to admit it, all three AM sports talk stations locally bare the same identity when it comes to their hiring resumes. 
Most of you have my number and email, but on the record, here's my email address if anyone representing one of the sports talk format stations would like to discuss this issue in an open forum : houstonmediawatch@yahoo.comDon't worry folks I'll be sure and let you know if anyone takes me up on my offer for a open forum decision. I'm sure my phone will be ringing off the hook? Yea right...please.
When you think about it in realistic terms, it really makes no common or business sense not to diversify your station and put it out front to show the listening public you're doing so. These guys running these stations are all very bright people who none of which can pretend not to understand the city's makeup.
Ask yourself what could be the source of their stubbornness and reluctance to put women in premier roles?
Women have the ability to talk football & basketball X&Os. Who's football opinion would you trust, Brooke Bentley formerly with the Texans organization or Rich Lord of Sports Radio 610? I'll take Brooke all day everyday. 
Are you trying to tell me that there's a vast degree of separation of baseball knowledge between Alyson Footer & Matt Thomas of Sports Talk 790? I've listened to both in great detail and I'm hear to tell you Alyson Footer is more than adequate (taking nothing away from Matt Thomas' vast baseball knowledge).
The only woman getting daily run in Houston's sports talk radio market is Julie Takahashi of ESPN 97 5 The Ticket. Julie Takahashi co-hosts with Carl Dukes and program director Dave Tepper weekdays 4p-7p on ESPN 97 5 The Ticket.
Carl Dukes is the only black host on weekdays on either of the BIG 4 stations. Dave Tepper has to be credited with showing a willingness to exercise the use of a marketing & imaging template that's geared toward the makeup of the city. W0W! WHAT A FREAKN GREAT IDEA!!
You can catch Anna Megan Raley on Sports Radio 610, Tuesdays 10a-11a co-hosting with Josh "The Wolfman" Innes.
I love Anna because she always up beat and not afraid to be a babe and still maintain respectability as an individual.
BEAUTY FOR THE BEAST IN US ALL!
Maybe the best argument, and at the same time the most predictable and obviously shallow chauvinistic argument to make would be this: The obvious fact is, going to station events would be a lot more exciting with the likes of Anna Megan Raley, Erin Skelly, or Brooke Bentley in the picture. Genius!
Craig Shelton
HMW
Email: houstonmediawatch@yahoo.com
Blog: http://www.houstonmediawatch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hmwshelton
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lesbiancraig
5 comments:
I am a Senior at Sam Houston but I am from Houston. My major is Communications and my minor is political science. I know I need to be working on an intern but I absolutely refused to work in Texas because it's 40 years behind reality. Your article is the very reason I am looking at New York or Chicago. I applaud all of the young ladies HMW featured but it really sucks that 4th largest city 6th largest media market operates like the Dukes of Hazzard. But who am I fooling, the mere fact that I am not joining the pool of competition in Houston makes it just that much better for them to continue with dated tactics. Just look at what the traffic woman has to do on 610, this is actually a boss approving of this in 2010 and she is perfectly fine doing it. I would be surprise if they video a full porno and post it one day because it's all about getting those targeted male listeners right?
HMW you have a follower in Huntsville.
Give me Erin and Alyson as a duo and I guarantee you they could hang with the big boys in the Mornings
Did any of these young ladies apply for a radio broadcast position? It is my understanding that all of these young ladies have jobs in some capacity. Should a person in a position of authority go chase them around Houston offering them a job? You keep on living in your world of Utopia. Of all the ones listed, Brook is the only worth having on the radio. This is my first time visiting this Blog and to hear the "Gender Gap" in the Workplace card just makes me shake my head. I just don't understand. I really believe if women or minorities were to be in control of every major occupation in America (in terms of numbers) but the one occupation where their numbers were low is Porter Potty Attendants, people will still bitch and complain about that too. My man, I work in media gender gap, race, crime and kids are very common tools in this business. You know it as well as I
I think when it comes to women in radio 610 is the best.
Rich Lord
Marc Vandermeer
Josh Innes
Shaun Bijani
790 comes in 2nd with
Matt Jackson
Matt Thomas
1560
The Hispanic Guy
Look panty waist lyin azz bradcaster guy yo breath stank yo momma wear combat boots..comin up in here under a alias blowin smoke out yo azz.. Be honest is this Adam Wexler??
White boyz crack me up with the bull.. In twenty four hours and that's being polite I can come up with twenty people of color who can excell at what ever the hell you do...ain no tellin how many qualified white women are out there ready to do the dam thang..oh u think u badd
Hiding behind a fake ass name talkin chit..well my name is earlis you think I am hard to find? That's what the Ku Klux
Klan did talked shyt and hid behind masks and assembled
In large groups.. Guess what yall original ganstas baby..
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