Women's Representation in the Sports World With Jenny Fischer
Jenny Fischer’s job is unique in the fact that she works within Championships on the Digital and Social Media front at the NCAAA. In the fall, she ran the @NCAASoccer account covering men’s and women’s Division I soccer. Her duties ranged from creating the overall strategy of the account, producing content such as graphics and highlighting plays of the week as well as covering their respective National Championships. “I've since moved onto women's basketball (@NCAAWBB) and as a self-proclaimed hoops head, it's been amazing. We embarked on a Women's Basketball Road Trip where I interviewed and led the content strategy and execution portion. No two days are the same, but the common thread is storytelling and student-athletes at the forefront.”
Jennys favorite part of her job is getting to cover the most exciting time for sports, the National Chamionships and interacting with the coaches/teams/players that they cover yearlong and do so much for from afar. “Being at the NCAA gives you that national angle that I try to leverage as much as possible – I don't just get to be a fan of "my" team/school, I get to help celebrate the biggest national moments for so many. Like the video we just put out on Tiana Mangakahia, the Syracuse women's basketball player who overcame breast cancer. The most challenging part however is staying motivated when I am stuck behind a screen – I personally love interacting with people, and sometimes the sheltered nature of social media can weigh on me.”
The advice Jenny would give someone who wants to have a career similar to hers, or in the sports world, would be to keep showing up. “It's one of my favorite quotes (and one said by Desi Linden, the famous runner). She said that some days you'll feel like you're born to do this, and other days you'll feel like you're trudging through hell – the key is to keep showing up, to put in the work, to see what you've got, and to try and be better. In the sports world, you can get knocked down – be told no more times than yes, feel behind the curve on the crazy new skills people are mastering or even just downright overworked. But I think 90% of my opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have came from continually showing up – and remembering to show up for myself everyday, too.”
It is extremely important for women to be represented in various ways in the sports world in Jenny’s opinion. “The saying goes if you can see it you can be it. Representation not only aids in diversity and inclusion but in terms of a reflection of reality. It reminds us that there are women out there doing the damn thing. There are women like myself doing what I want to do – but also in "nontraditional" roles as far as traditional societal standards. Coaches like Becky Hammon or broadcasters like LaChina Robinson are reminders for how far we've come – but they're also so much more than mere reminders. They are badass women doing their jobs. And I think telling women's stories is equally as important in the sports world as the women being represented. The world needs to know about them, continue to foster these opportunities (alongside doling out access) and know that its importance cannot be taken for granted.”
In five years, Jenny hopes to be connected to basketball and storytelling on the East Coast, specifically in New York City. She pictures herself working her dream job, for the Big East conference and propelling its basketball storytelling — among other sports — to new heights. “That’s through video, graphics, photos, interviews, podcasts, and/or whatever else the new medium is. My career isn't the only thing I'm interested in 5 years down the line – I want to accomplish bigger things for others. I want to lift other women to accomplishing what they have their sights set on. I want to be more than an inspiration or someone who has a nice title. I want to give back. In 5 years, I hope to be in a place in my life where I'm contributing to things larger than myself – in the end, it was never about me anyways. That's how I view it at least.”