Double Standard: Why Women Have Trouble Getting Jobs in Local Television Sports

A national survey of television news directors was conducted to find out why women are fairly well represented in local television news (39%) but hardly at all in local television sports (7%). News directors say they have no preconceived gender bias related to their hiring decisions, but a double standard does exist. Those women that do get jobs are often hired more for their physical looks than their skill, which suggests a relatively short career track. Other implications are also discussed.