JoNae Malbrough discusses what it’s like to work in a male-dominated industry like sports!

It’s A Man’s World is a song written by the late James Brown. “It’s a man’s world, but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl,” the lyrics continued. There’s a lot of truth in that song, but the fact is that it’s still a man’s world, and many men think that, even if it’s not said, women should keep their position in sports. JoNae is a multi-tasking production assistant who aspires to be a sports anchor spokesperson one day. She understood what she wanted to accomplish from a young age, and knew that being in a male-dominated field wasn’t going to be an easy journey. But with her faith and determination she is making sure that she sees her dreams come to fruition one day. 

Peebles: JoNae, how did you get started in the sports arena?
JoNae: I got started in sports in high school and fell in love with football. I started filming for the football team. I would film them practicing and put their videos on Huddle, which was a website that athletes used to upload their footage so coaches could recruit them. From there, I went to college at Stephen F Austin State University, where I did media and recruiting with them. For my major, I worked for Jack’s TV as an anchor and sports reporter. Also, with my college experience, I worked with the Texan as a marketer. I would decorate the rooms and pitch ideas to help the fans stay Texan fans.

Peebles: What made you want to be a sports anchorwoman?
JoNae: In high school, I interned for 247 Sports, and at that time I didn’t know much about sports broadcasting. I just noticed that when I watched ESPN or other sports channels, there weren’t as many women as there are now. I wanted to be on TV, where girls like me who wanted to do that would have a chance. But I didn’t know where to start. So, I would attend the top sporting events in my area and then tweet about the event and upload it on YouTube, which landed me a job on 247 Sports, and I knew this was what I wanted to do.

Peebles: It’s hard work in the sports arena. How do you feel about that?
JoNae: I never shied away from work, even if it wasn’t paid; I was passionate about what I really wanted to do. I feel like it’s an accomplishment for a minority woman like myself. So, to put myself out there where people who are younger than me can see it is possible, you just have to put in the work. Never let anyone tell you that because you’re in the minority or a woman, you don’t know anything about the sport or that you can’t do the job because you can.

Peebles: What do you find most challenging about the sports arena?
JoNae: What I find most challenging is that the market is hard to get into because you have to put yourself there trying to make connections because you have to respect everyone’s time due to their busy schedules. For me, it’s been hard to reach out to people because the industry is so competitive, especially if you’re looking for a mentor. Many people don’t want to help.

Peebles: How do you deal with the mental stress that comes with the job?
JoNae: Mentally, it does take a toll on me, but I remember to keep my faith. I know I haven’t done all these things for no reason; I’m only 23. I have to constantly remind myself of all the accomplishments I have achieved. I was a sports nominee for NFL Live at 23. I just keep focusing on the positive things. I also think about how I can help the next generation of young girls behind me. When my male counterpart tries to downplay my accomplishments, I feel so much more sorry for them than for myself because they are the ones who are intimated by a woman. I know it takes patience, and eventually it will come.