The Griffin Hall Digitorium hosted the second annual ‘Women in Sports Media’ panel on Wednesday evening. The event was sponsored by the OINK Film Festival, Women in Film Cincinnati and Friday Football Live. 

It featured prominent media figures such as NKU alumni Sierra Newton, Jen Heringer and Jami Patton, as well as former NKU employee Teresa Turner. These alumni were also joined by founder of Game Day Productions’ Betsy Ross.

First on the docket was introductions. Heringer introduced herself and talked about her unique role as director of the Cincinnati Reds baseball broadcasts. She acknowledged that while live television isn’t easy, she wouldn’t trade it for anything. Newton, a host of BBN Tonight, echoed those sentiments, saying she wears a lot of hats being a multimedia journalist for LEX18, but she has found the right job for her. 

Patton took a different route. While she still does entertainment live, it is in the stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. She oversees any entertainment that happens during or between innings, essentially creating a show for fans. 

Teresa Turner also has a unique job at the University of Nevada where she is the director of creative media. She said she loves her job but the turn around from a night game to getting a recap video done by the next morning is the most demanding part of her job. 

Ross has done many things in her career, including founding Game Day Productions in nearby Cincinnati and being an anchor on Sportscenter. She added her start didn’t come from any special trick or ability she might have had.

Ross started out as a news reporter but decided to try her hand at sports because the department needed people to cover the understaffing. 

“I only got into sports because I raised my hand,” Ross said. “I volunteered.” 

Next up was discussing what their daily responsibilities are.

Heringer said she has long days, usually showing up six hours before game time. She said it is her duty to show all aspects of the game, whether it be action, the commentators or fan reactions. Newton said her job depends on the day as a multimedia journalist, especially with often having to cover college football and basketball in the same week. 

Turner said as the director of creative media for the University of Nevada Athletics,  she has to balance how her videos might be seen and reacted to by potential athletes, current athletes and fans, as well as the family members of those athletes. 

Patton said her job is making sure fans are entertained from the time they enter the stadium to the time they leave. She said one of her biggest challenges is balancing fulfilling sponsorship requirements and putting on a great show. 

Ross spoke more on the jobs she has had in the past, most specifically as her time as anchor on ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter. She said it is imperative to deliver the best and most accurate highlights. She said it was an honor to do it because “that’s where you want to work.” 

The panel was then asked what motivates them.

Many of the panelists shared that they do what they do for the reaction they get from the fans. Newton said what keeps her going is the fact that her job is always changing and she can potentially do something different everyday. She said that she also loves making personal connections with the athletes and making them known beyond just their jersey numbers.

Heringer said what drives her is the fact that she can be an inspiration for others, especially women who are underrepresented in sports media. She added that opportunities for other women doesn’t mean that men have to get less opportunities.

“There’s enough room for everyone to succeed.” Heringer said. 

Ross said that along with her passion for play-by-play—something she has even done at NKU—she also finds motivation in the ability to uplift the women that are trying to make a name for themselves in the industry.

“That’s the way it’s supposed to work,” Ross said. “We’re supposed to bring up the next generation…it is so important for girls and young women to be seen and valued and to see other women doing what they want to do. If you see somebody who looks like you, who’s doing what you want to do, then it becomes real.”