Annual Media Summit Examines Underrepresentation in Sports Media

The 18th Annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit on Oct. 26 addressed the theme “Reaching for the Summit: Underrepresentation in Sports Media.”

Watch the recording.

Moderated by Allif Karim ’18, producer/editor for WJZ-13 in Baltimore, Md. and former sports director at WDVM-TV in Maryland, the panel featured the following sports media professionals: Donna Goldsmith ’82, part-time marketing and operations consultant and former executive with Tough Mudder and World Wrestling Entertainment; Yaw Ofori-Atta ’05, television producer for CBS Sports; Ade Eillis ’04, associate director of CBS Sports; and Morgan Rumpf ’17, former marketing manager for the Hudson Valley Renegades, a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and now chief marketing officer at C-Suite Executive Solutions LLC.

The panelists talked about sports media and underrepresentation in the sports industry for women and people of color. They shared their personal stories of experiencing or seeing this in their workplace.

“We’re having these conversations and it’s no longer taboo to want to be inclusive,” Rumpf said.

The panelists touched on a range of issues, including the mental health of athletes and sports figures, freedom of speech and personal liberties for professional athletes, lack of coverage of women’s sports, sexist questions for female athletes unrelated to their performance and the recruitment, hiring and promotion of diverse professionals by media organizations.

Students asked panelists questions that focused on getting more coverage for those who are underrepresented in sports and also accurately portraying the image that athletes develop from their actions outside of their sport.

After the panel, students could meet with Career Connectors: Natalie Brophy ’17, technology and startups reporter for The Buffalo News; Paul Esden Jr. ’15, New York Jets digital reporter for Heavy.com; Dylan Labadia ’15, retirement consultant for Paychex USA; and Rumpf.

Students were able to get advice from career connectors and hear about their career paths and what they have experienced in the media industry.

Watch the Oswego Alumni Vlodcast/Podcast hosted by Dee McGowan Perkins ’85 and featuring interviews with Brophy, Esden and Ellis as well as the student directors, Jenna Wilson ’22 and Melinda Brancato ’25.

The Media Summit was founded in 2005 by Lou Borrelli ’77 and was later co-sponsored in 2007 by Al Roker ’76. The event was renamed in honor of their beloved professor, the late Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell.

~ Sarah Skibickyj ’23