ESPN’s New Title IX Series Positive But Raises Big Question
By Ken Reed
ESPN has announced a new documentary series, Nine for IX, that focuses on women in sports through the eyes of female filmmakers. The nine films will air weekly and premier on July 2nd on ESPN. The series is modeled after ESPN’s successful 30 for 30 sports documentary series.
This is a terrific development for girls and women in sports, especially coming off the 40th anniversary celebration of Title IX. ESPN should be commended for the move, especially the fact that they’ll be using female filmmakers to develop the series.
Unfortunately, it begs the question, “Why weren’t women in sports part of the original 30 for 30 series?”
Only three of ESPN’s 51 “30 for 30″ films have told the stories of female athletes.
“While ESPN has taken many positive steps to boost women’s sports and the roles of women in sports, and while it is rightly celebrating the success of Title IX, it shouldn’t need a special anniversary to talk about women in sports and the challenges they still face,” wrote Travis Waldron. “And it shouldn’t need a special event to turn the cameras over to female directors. That it does serves as yet another indication of how far women in the world of sports have to go, even four decades after Title IX became law.”
Here’s hoping we won’t need a special documentary series for women in sports 40 years from now.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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Episode #4 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: The Biggest Issue in Sports Today? Brain Trauma – The guest is Patrick Hruby, a journalist who has done extensive research and in-depth writing on the topic of brain trauma in sports, most notably football.
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Episode #1: The inaugural episode of League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast. The topic is Title IX and equal opportunity in sports. The guest is long-time Title IX and civil rights activist Donna Lopiano.
Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
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