Gender Inequality in Sports Media with Dr. Anne O’Brien

Sports media isn’t just about results, highlights, and big moments. Behind the coverage is a system that decides which athletes we see, how they are portrayed, and whose stories get told.

So what does the research say about women in sports media? Why are female athletes still underrepresented, and how are they framed when they do get coverage? What role do journalists, editors, and media organisations play in shaping visibility and audience interest?

On this episode of Women in Sport, we sit down with Anne O’Brien, Associate Professor in Media Studies at Maynooth University, to talk about gender inequality in sport, media representation, and the findings from her research in Ireland. We explore why these patterns exist, how they impact society, and what needs to change to improve coverage of women’s sport.