Women in Sport Journalism Day

It has been called the last men’s club in journalism, but expect a much more female future for the UK's sport coverage.

That’s the joint message from LJMU student Ellie Colledge and Sky Sports presenter Bela Shah, who teamed up at our Women in Sports Journalism Day.

“I’m looking to score some points for the women,” said Ellie, 19, from Warwickshire. “I think I’d bring more diversity sporting knowledge. Since I was a kid I’ve been following rugby and cricket and golf, and I interviewed Dylan Hartley while I was still at school.”

Ellie, who studies on the degree in Sport Journalism, spent the day with Bela and colleagues from Sky Sports including Kate Burlaga and Faye Carruthers, a Sky regular who will be anchoring for talkSPORT at the forthcoming European Football Championships.

'Made it'

“It’s great to meet up with women who have already made it and see the exciting things they’ve done in their careers. It makes you want to do all these things too.”

Ellie, who dreams of being a presenter, was one of around a dozen undergraduate volunteers for the NCTJ sponsored event which welcomed around 100 GCSE students to the University to work with female Sky Sports professionals.

Girls from schools across Merseyside and the north west enjoyed hands-on activities around podcasting, interviewing, presenting and producing.

Ellie and Bela worked with the girls on presenting and Bela, herself a graduate in broadcast journalism, believes there’s nothing stopping Ellie’s ambition.

'Be committed'

“I expect we’ll see more young women like Ellie coming into the industry. She’ll get knock backs but there are a lot of females now at Sky and if she shows how committed she is, she’ll get there.

“To be able to say she’s been reporting on sport since the age of 13 is fantastic.”

The Women in Sports Journalism Day was opened by Director of the Liverpool Screen School, Professor Rachel Mclean and Laurie Tucker, Head of Training and Development at Sky Sports News.

Rachael said: “Our aim is to inspire young women to pursue their love of sport in an exciting career and we thank our partners at Sky Sports and our supporters at the National Council for the Training of Journalists and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.”

Senior lecturer Peter Leydon organised the day which welcomed girls from Cowley College, Upton Hall, Archbishop Beck, Whitchurch School, Deyes High, St Hilda’s, North Liverpool Academy and Holy Family.