Thread by @ghosh_annesha

Covering women's cricket in India has largely been a thankless, taxing, financially unrewarding job these past few years.

You have heard me say this before, but today seems like as good a time as any to reiterate this truth.

/n

Only a few journalists have gone out of their way to cover women's cricket in person in the time I've been in this industry. It often involves giving up days-off/voluntarily working extra hours/shelling 💵 out of one's own pocket to be able to document matches/stories first-hand.

Most cricketers who are part of the national mix, and even their families, know who these journalists are and acknowledge their effort. And it's important I mention this because when all else seems futile, it's only their stories AND humility that keep the journalists going.

How do I know? Well, I have been one of those few journalists who have invested a fair bit of financial and emotional currency in women's cricket, especially in India, these past few years to bring you stories from this ecosystem. (I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS DONE THIS, FYI.)

Strictly from experience, it's worth stating that with a Women's IPL and the inaugural U-19 women's World Cup around the corner, and women's cricket in India being on the cusp of something big, quality content around the women's game looks more lucrative ("sexy", even) than ever.

So, the least any journalist, especially a freelancer, would expect out of those keen on feeding off the knowledge, expertise, and passion for women's cricket is attribution.

And when simply Ctrl C + Ctrl V-ing their work, REMUNERATE THEM FOR THEIR CONTENT, TIME, AND KNOWLEDGE.

Over the years, I have noticed that the majority of India's women cricketers are as welcoming towards newcomers in this space as they are towards those they've seen for years. But it depends largely on the honesty of the journalists' work and intent.

So, what's really stopping anyone from covering women's cricket in India?

Intent, time, money? All of these? Well, then, pay those who can cover the matches for you, and just don't resort to lifting their content. If you can't pay or attribute, don't use their content. Simple.

I write this after seeing an industry colleague's work being used without authorisation - journalistically and financially massively unfair - on the pretext of an effort being made to promote the women's game.

Women's cricket needs promoting, sure. But in this manner? Never.

Flight tickets

Food

Accomodation

Camera gear

Knowledge

Time

Relationships

Intent

Credibility

Empathy

Storytelling skills

Multimedia storytelling skills

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Grand total of investment that goes into doing a sports story = ?

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Food for thought. :)

Ignore the typos.

But don't ignore the reality, please.

Covering sport has a price tag attached to it. And women's sport is/should be no different.

On the subject of sports journalism in India and covering women's cricket/sport, here's a story I from my trip to the UK for the #B2022 Commonwealth Games earlier this year I feel I must share today.

(Do zoom in an take a look/study the pictures if you end up reading the text.)