,

Where Are All the Black Women in Sports Journalism?

We spoke with Elaine Welteroth about her emotional conversation with sports journalists Cari Champion, MJ Acosta-Ruiz and Kelsey Nicole Nelson

During the weekend of February 11 and 12, most people were laser-focused on the Super Bowl (and Rihannaโ€™s performance, of course). But while all of that was going on, CIROC was hosting an important conversation about Black women in sports journalism.

As part of their #CIROCStands for Black Excellence, a campaign intended to highlight extraordinary voices in the Black community, Diddyโ€™s spirits brand teamed up with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) to host a Super Bowl Weekend panel honoring women of color in sports journalism. The powerful conversation, hosted by journalist and bestselling author Elaine Welteroth, included sports journalists MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Cari Champion, and Kelsey Nicole Nelson in a conversation about their success in the industry and the peaks and valleys theyโ€™ve experienced along the way.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view

The Root spoke with Elaine Welteroth about why she thought it was so important to show a little love to the next generation of Black journalists.

In addition to being the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, the youngest person and only the second African American to hold the position at a Condรฉ Nast publication, Welterothโ€™s resume includes senior editorial roles at Glamour and Ebony. And if all of that wasnโ€™t enough, sheโ€™s also the New York Times bestselling author of โ€œMore Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say,โ€ a book about being a boss on your own terms.

But while her impressive portfolio makes her one of the most well-respected journalists in the industry, Welteroth says the road was not always easy.

โ€œI remember being an intern like it was yesterday and all of the early challenges that I faced in my career so vividly,โ€ she said. โ€œI feel a real responsibility to invest whatever time, resources and energy I can to help other journalists of color navigate their careers and hopefully avoid some of the challenges and pitfalls I faced.โ€

Welteroth called the opportunity to partner with CIROC and NABJ the perfect forum to shine a light on Black women in sports journalism who donโ€™t always receive the credit they deserve. And she adds that Super Bowl weekend was the perfect time to address the need for more women in the industry. โ€œI didnโ€™t know, until I was preparing for this panel, that women represent only 11 percent of the industry in sports media. And the percentage drops significantly when you talk about Black women in sports,โ€ she said.

Although the women on the panel cover different aspects of the industry, Welteroth says they found through lines along their often challenging professional journeys.

โ€œPeople were moved to tears. We saw each other in our stories. We connected and felt seen. It was like Black girl journalism church,โ€ she said. โ€œWhether weโ€™re in fashion, sports, broadcasting, print or digital, we all understand what it means to be the first, the only, and to feel different,โ€ she said. โ€œItโ€™s a very small niche, and we have to stick together.โ€

CรŽROCโ€™s partnership with the NABJ is part of their continuous effort to maintain a thriving pipeline of Black storytellers in the industry.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.