The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of the current state of women journalists within the sports departments at newspapers across the United States. This investigation involved a determination of their demographic make-up, job status within the sports department, rationale for entering the field, and advice for younger women preparing to follow in their footsteps. The findings suggest that although the large majority of women have faced discrimination in the sport media, they believe improvements have been made towards equity. The majority of respondents noted that they were happy with the assignments they had been given. Subjects did, however, feel that they were assigned to cover females more than their male counterparts, and some responses regarding dissatisfaction with their positions was also noted. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005media, sport, female, journalist, reporters,

Justice, Fairness, Job satisfaction, Coaches, Interscholastic athletics,

Job satisfaction is an essential construct explaining human behavior in organizations. To fully understand the construct, however, it is necessary to recognize how employees establish satisfaction levels. One method has been to explore who employees use as a basis of comparison—referent others—when establishing their perceptions of equity, which influence satisfaction. This study expanded the body of knowledge associated with satisfaction and sport organizations by using nontraditional participants—members of the Association for Women in Sports Media. The referent-selection processes used by these women in determining their level of satisfaction in five specific areas of job satisfaction were compared. The Job Descriptive Index was used to establish satisfaction levels, and a Referent Selection Instrument identified whom the participants used as a basis of comparison. The findings indicate the extent to which the participants made referent comparisons, what comparisons were made, and the relationship between satisfaction and their referent comparisons.

No abstract

According to previous work in the coaching field, job satisfaction has been found to be an important work related variable, critical to retention and turnover of female coaches [Chelladurai, P., and E. Ogasawara. (2003). “Satisfaction and Commitment of American and Japanese Collegiate Coaches.” Journal of Sport Management 17, 62–73; Sagas, M., and F.B. Ashley. (2001). “Gender Differences in the Intent to Leave Coaching: Testing the Role of Personal, External, and Work-Related Variables.” International Journal of Sport Management 2(4), 297–313]. The current study provides a better understanding of the work environment of coaches of girls’ sports by combining satisfaction and comparisons used in this process. Male and female coaches (n=202) employed full-time at Texas public high schools completed a questionnaire containing the Job Descriptive Index [Smith, P.C., L.M. Kendall, and C.C. Hulin. (1969). The Measurement of Satisfaction in Work and Retirement. New York: Rand McNally.], the Job In General (Ironson et al., 1997), a referent comparison instrument, and demographic information. The findings indicated significant satisfaction differences based on gender and comparison other. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005job satisfaction, coaching, referent comparisons, interscholastic,