I always knew that there was a major lack of representation from minorities in sports media and media in general. I had been warned several times that there weren’t a lot of people that looked like me. Still, I expected at such a huge event like the NBA Finals to see more minorities. That never happened and it led me to wonder was it a lack of opportunity or lack of desire? I desperately wanted to know.
Being that I’m so new to this industry, I am the first to admit that I don’t have all of the answers. I wanted to look deeper into this issue and get somebody who has had a long and successful career perspective.
David Aldridge is one of the best in the industry. He has managed to have a long and successful career that has spanned over four decades. From the Philadelphia Inquirer to the Washington Post to ESPN and now TNT, Aldridge has put together an impressive resume of accomplishments that should encourage minorities that have the desire to work as a sports reporter.
While at the NBA finals, I had the privilege of stepping away from the chaos for a few minutes and speaking to Aldridge about the lack of minorities in the media and what he thinks should be done about it. He also provided great insight about how to be successful in this industry. I took a lot away from our conversation. In an industry where a lot of the writers and reporters all look a certain way, I felt inspired by Aldridge’s interview and I’m hoping other minorities — be it women, African Americans, Hispanics, etc – will feel the same way.
You can listen to the full audio below.
http://youtu.be/qoKroZhVHLc
