Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [102]-112). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [102]-112). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-109). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The goal of this research was to provide an attitude assessment of how women perceive their roles in sports departments in the television industry.Fifteen female participants responded to a Q sort study which covered these specific subject areas: relationships with coworkers, relationships with management, career advancement opportunities, and work environment.An examination of the Q sorts revealed three distinct factor types that were labeled: Noncommitted, Loyalists, and Dissatisfied.The Noncommitted were satisfied with their feedback from coworkers and management and their willingness to incorporate these comments into the content of the sports broadcast. On the other hand, they did not see any advancement opportunities at their organization or in the industry, itself.The Loyalists did not speak about being held back by men in their organizations and they were not impressed with their promotion opportunities at their companies.Finally, the Dissatisfied group was unhappy because they did not receive support from upper management, only from their coworkers.Demographics had little impact on the interpretation of the three factors. However, if a woman was in the industry for 15+ years, then she usually received a higher salary or was given another job title, such as sports director. This was a rare occurrence though among this group of respondents. / Department of Journalism

While there has been considerable growth in the success and involvement of women athletes in all levels of sport, the opportunity to participate is not enough to guarantee equality in the field of athletics. In society, one must have a voice that is not only heard but is considered credible. This voice is considered sport media, and the right of women to own a place in the field of sport media is as important as their right to participate in professional sport (Staurowsky & DiManno, 2002). While the appearance of women behind the sportscasters desk has grown in both local and network markets, are they deemed less credible than their male counterparts? This study was designed to explore the impact of attractiveness and knowledge in the formation of impressions of credibility of male and female sportscasters. Using a repeated measures analysis of variance, the findings illustrated that a sex stereotype does indeed exist concerning the perceptions of credibility regarding male and female sportscasters. Even the most attractive and most knowledgeable female sportscaster can't overcome the stereotype of another pretty face who cannot talk sports. Her sex prevents her from being judged as credible as the least attractive and least knowledgeable male sportscaster. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Master of Arts

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

This qualitative study aims to analyze the lived reality of women working in sports media today. Through systematic analysis of 12 in-depth interviews, the findings of this study suggest that the adoption of technological advancements in news media and all associated outlets have created a leveling effect for women due to the demand for highly skilled individuals who can handle the digital demand of modern news production. This study suggests that longtime gender disparities in sports media are experiencing a bit of a reprieve due to the massive digital audience and the need for professionals who can deliver information quickly and efficiently and with accuracy. However, the persistent symbolic annihilation of women as well as hegemonic hiring practices that emphasize aesthetic appeal have created a difficult path for women to move off the sidelines and into roles with more creative and analytical breadth, even with a rapidly increasing demand for jobs in the media industry.