Text of AWSM President's Letter to ESPN

Dear Mr. Cohen:

On behalf of the Association for Women in Sports Media, I would like to express my concern and disgust regarding the recent hiring of actress Thea Andrews as a national correspondent on the new morning show, Cold Pizza. Allowing Ms. Andrews to work as a journalist while also portraying a journalist on Playmakers is a serious conflict and poses ethical concerns.

While AWSM certainly recognizes that there is a difference between acting and real reporting, featuring the same woman in both roles blurs the line between fiction and reality. Unfortunately, ESPN's viewers might not make the obvious distinction. It is unethical and unacceptable. And because, unfortunately, stereotypes still exist about female sports journalists, Playmakers is only doing harm by perpetuating them.

We are highly disappointed that you have decided to portray female sports reporters in such a disparaging manner. In a recent episode of Playmakers, Andrews' character, Samantha Lovett, enters the locker room and touches running back Leon Taylor suggestively on the shoulder. In another episode, she is shown rubbing Taylor's thigh and he fantasizes about her.

AWSM includes many broadcast and print female reporters and editors who work in newsrooms throughout the country, including your own. We condemn the stereotype portrayed in the Playmakers program. The character of Samantha Lovett is viewed only in terms of her sexuality, not in terms of her professional ability. Her conduct on the show is totally unprofessional and not at all representative of female reporters in locker rooms today.

This program is offensive and it goes against everything our group stands for. As an organization, we believe in journalistic integrity and hold high standards for professional conduct. We work hard to cultivate sources and develop professional relationships with the athletes and coaches we cover. However, we have always battled the misconception that we have ulterior motives for being in the locker room.

When AWSM was founded in 1987, the issue of women reporting in male locker rooms was a major concern. Now that we have won the locker room battle, we hope to continue making strides in breaking stories and practicing responsible journalism. I am afraid that the misconceptions in the "Playmakers" episode could hinder our work that lies ahead.