Anna Dmitrieva and Maria Kommandnaya: Can women be football commentators?
AT THIS OUTPUT FOOTBALL COMMENTATOR VASILIY UTKIN announced the launch of his own school of sports journalism only for men, and explained his decision in detail in a detailed Facebook post. Referring to the fact that there are so few women in sports and, in particular, football journalism, Utkin stressed that he did not see the need to “waste time” on their training, since, in his opinion, no sense would come of it anyway. What exactly is wrong with this position yesterday at the request of Meduza was analyzed by Glavred Wonderzine Olga Strakhovskaya and football coach Alla Filina. And today we asked legendary Anna Dmitrieva and the star of a new generation of sports journalism, Maria Kommanduyu, to comment on the position of women in sports journalism.
I agree with the position of Vasya [Utkin] - and not because I am against women. Here we are talking not just about reporter work, but about commentary work. The commentator, in my opinion, should be knowledgeable, interested and versed in the subject itself. This does not mean that a woman cannot understand football, but for some reason I have never met a good, and generally normal, football woman commentator. So it has traditionally happened. Maybe women are not as interesting as other sports, and maybe this is because the male audience still trusts the male voice. Basil is not some kind of antifeminist, nothing like that. It seems to me that he just knows people who are interested in football, and is guided by them.
While working at NTV Plus, I conducted training for future tennis commentators, and Vasya also worked with young guys. They had weekly fly-outs, at which they discussed in detail everything you need to know and be able to commentator and correspondent. Under the leadership of Vasily, the formation of those who later became a normal commentator (I mean men) took place. He invited as trainees and women - among them was Masha Kommandnaya, and several other girls - but, in my opinion, they did not take place as commentators. I do not argue - there are girls who would like to become football commentators, but they do not have to deal with Vasya Utkin, let them work with someone else.
In addition to football, there are other sports: artistic and artistic gymnastics, tennis. But to be a curious commentator, all these disciplines need to be known from the inside. The commentator has no finished text - everything must be born "here and now." Within an hour and a half you are left alone with the audience, and common phrases will not pass here - this is the lot of the presenter. The commentator should have something in his heart to tell about it sincerely, and not to learn from pieces of paper. It seems that Vasya stressed that he is not launching a school of sports journalism, but a commentary school for young people who are passionate about football. Such children often do not study well, and their parents are upset because children are not doing something promising. At one time such boys came to us, who then became good commentators. What Vasya does is to support young people who need to find themselves. It seems to me that Vasily quite rightly decided to create a school only for guys. There is no catch here and no challenge for women.
It seems to me strange to raise the question of whether or not there is a place for women in sports journalism. The place is everyone and everywhere - and, sorry, in 2016 I have every right to think so. As they say, women's rights are human rights.
I have been working in sports journalism for about ten years. I have always loved sports, and already at 14-15, when I was still at school, I knew exactly what I would do. We had a PROSPORT magazine seminar on journalism, from there I got into the sports edition of NTV Plus. And off we go. Dima Fedorov worked very actively with all the newbies - I am very grateful to him. It was Dima who invented the legendary “Football Club” program, and now he occupies a high position at KHL-TV. Dima always said that he sees a big difference between the way the girls and the guys who just came to the channel work: the girls are more diligent, diligent, they are very anxious about their work. Excellent qualities for a sports journalist: after all, in order to prove themselves, they need to be a cut above the surrounding guys - it just so happened.
I can tell a couple of telling stories about sports journalism. Several years ago I came to an interview with Pavel Datsyuk. He is a hockey player, not a football player, but I think this is still a very vivid example. At first, Pavel was talking to me through clenched teeth: it seemed to him that in front of him, in a dress and heels, was sitting some kind of silly girl. But after the one-hour interview, he changed his mind: he thanked for the interesting questions and said thank you for the fact that I prepared myself so well. Or another example: we have football experts working on the channel (which, by the way, are led by two beautiful women). Usually it is either former football players or coaches. When we discuss the moments of the game with them before the air, we choose episodes that we will make out in the studio, I don’t hear from them a bit of sarcasm or disrespect in my address. We speak as equals, as professionals, for which they thank you very much.
On the air, I don’t climb into tactical schemes, I don’t try to pose as an expert - instead I try to focus on the details, cite statistics, appeal to the facts. To all girls who dream of sports journalism, I can say the following: the main thing is to be in the material, to plunge into it for one hundred percent. For more than ten years, every day I begin with reading sports news - it allows you to keep abreast of major events and gives you the opportunity to talk on the air on almost any topic. By the way, my commenting friends often help me. When I have not seen a match, I can easily call Pasha Zanozin, Roma Naguchev, Misha Mossakovsky - they will always be happy to answer any of my questions. Friends, you are just the world.
As for commenting matches, here things are a little more complicated. For example, I do not want to turn into a football commentator - although there are girls who comment on football, and they are beautiful. Another thing when a girl works as a sideline reporter. This is a journalist who interviews during the break and after matches. Overseas, they are almost always girls. They work in all sports. For example, Michelle Tafoy, who interviews American football players, is a superstar in her field. Players refer to her as “ma'am” - I think it's terribly cute. I am sure that Russian sports television will move in this direction, and in the near future we will also have our own Michelle Tafoi. At first, perhaps they will be treated with caution. But the dog barks, the caravan goes - for girls in sports journalism, this rule always works.
The photo: ebay