The Telegraph have announced a major new editorial initiative to promote women’s sports.
Heading the operation will be women’s sports editor Anna Kessel, one of the founders of Women in Football and author of the best-seller Eat, Sweat, Play. Vicki Hodges will be her deputy and two more reporters are due to start shortly.
They join existing writers Kate Rowan (rugby), Maggie Alphonsi (rugby) and Katie Whyatt, who became the first full-time newspaper reporter dedicated to women’s football last year.
Judy Murray, triple European sprint champion, Dina Asher-Smith, and England football vice captain, Jordan Nobbs have also been lined up as contributors.
Anna Kessel said: “Telegraph Women’s Sport is setting the agenda for our industry; this is truly a landmark moment for sports coverage and I am extremely proud to be part of it.
“Over the years too many women’s sports stories have been lost, forgotten, or undervalued. The repercussions of this exclusion have been felt by all women, and by young girls in PE halls across the country.
“TWS aims to play a role in redressing the balance. Our mission is to create greater visibility for women’s sport, bring new audiences to the subject, showcase new voices, unearth thrilling stories, champion sporting brilliance, and campaign on issues that we hope will help to bring about change for future generations of women and girls. I’m delighted to be leading The Telegraph’s coverage, and I hope we will play a part in changing the status quo.”
Excited to announce that I am going to be a columnist for the @Telegraph + that it comes as part of their wider commitment to women’s sport ♥️this has loads of potential + will hopefully shine light on some incredible sporting feats that may have otherwise slipped under the radar pic.twitter.com/ATNEoBD67X
— Dina Asher-Smith (@dinaashersmith) March 18, 2019
TWS will be accessible through a dedicated online channel on the Telegraph’s news website and apps, on Twitter (@WomensSport) and Instagram (@TelegraphWomensSport), alongside a new weekly newsletter. In print, TWS will include coverage in the sports section of the daily paper and an additional monthly supplement. Telegraph Women’s Sport will officially launch at Advertising Week Europe.
Head of sport Adam Sills said: “We have a great award-winning team of sports journalists and commentators and already have dedicated women’s rugby and football correspondents here at The Telegraph.
“Telegraph Women’s Sport, however, is about a much bigger commitment to reporting on women’s sport and I hope it will spark interest and enthusiasm from our readers and sports fans everywhere.”