BCOMS D Word 4 Guide – New Research Into Diversity In Sports Media

News UK support and host leading diversity conference 

The Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS) has launched new research on diversity in the sports media at the D Word 4 conference, supported by News UK. 

BCOMS is a leading not for profit organisation on a mission to help diversify the sports media. The D Word conference brought together leaders across the sports media and wider sports industry to review progress, share good practice and explore new ideas to address a lack of diversity in the sector. 

The new research looked at 258 broadcast roles in the industry covering the Men’s UEFA European Football Championship, Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo and Wimbledon in 2021. The research also covered the Winter Olympics and Paralympics held earlier this year.

In the written media BCOMS analysed 78 roles in the written media covering the Men’s UEFA European Football Championship. Senior positions across the sports media were also focused on. 

The key findings included:

• Just 2 Black sports writers covered the UEFA European Football Championship

• Only 3 women sports writers were involved in going to games during the UEFA European Football Championship

• There is currently not one Woman or Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic Head of Sport or Chief Sports Writer across the eight mainstream national newspapers

• Women filled 35% of the 258 broadcast roles BCOMS reviewed

• There was 5.4% Asian representation across the 258 broadcast roles BCOMS reviewed

• 15% of the 258 broadcast roles were made up from the Black community

Having heard the research, the conference delegates then joined workshops focused on finding new ways forward to address under representation in the industry. 

A diversity guide highlighting good practice from the conference will be created by BCOMS and shared with leaders across the sports media.

Leon Mann MBE, BCOMS Founder, said: 

“The D Word 4 conference was a big success and we would like to thank News UK for supporting and hosting an important day for the sports media. 

“Sport is largely diverse. Sports journalism in many areas is not.  Some of the stats from our research may be difficult for the industry to hear but we need to be very clear in where the challenges exist and act with urgency.”

To compile all of this information and turn it into a guide that can be distributed and used by the sports media industry.

The guide is an important resource that brings together the research and ideas that were compiled over the summer at the D Word 4 conference.

As BCOMS founder Leon Mann said at the event ” This guide is not a nice to have, it is a must. It is important we share this research with all our contacts”.

The D WorD 4 Guide is available to download here, please share it amongst your peers in an effort to improve the sports media industry.