...with
Dave Benz.
"We would prefer to hire a woman."
I was both shocked and angered when I saw this statement
appear on a recent job listing, both on this site and
elsewhere on the net. While I've got no problem with women
getting jobs in our industry, actually having an employer
come out and state their search criteria in such clearly
defined terms is appalling. Yet did anyone notice? Not
a single person emailed me to express their anger over
the statement. So I guess it must be ok. And if so, then
I guess it would be fine for other job openings to begin
stating, "We would prefer to hire a white male."
Where do we draw the line? For years
the standard statement surrounding such ads has read,
"Women and minorities strongly encouraged."
Depending on which side of the fence you sit, even that
phrase can be either a blessing or a curse. Since white
males make up the majority of sports talent candidates,
it's a safe assumption the majority equates this statement
to a lump of coal in a Christmas stocking.
Despite my status as a white male sportscaster,
despite the number of times I've been told I had no shot
at certain openings because the employers wanted to hire
a female or minority, I have no problem with such employment
criteria.
That's not to say I like that criteria.
In fact I despise it... just as I despise EEO quotas anywhere.
Unfortunately, in many segments of society today, they
are still necessary. There are still too many small minded
individuals who exhibit bias against women and minorities
and would never hire that segment of society without EEO
restrictions.
Additionally, I've been around the broadcasting
biz long enough to understand it is just that, a business.
Make no mistake, as a qualified applicant for a position
it's crushing to learn your tape probably won't even get
a look because you don't fit the "mold" of what
the employer is looking for. It's infuriating. It's also
reality.
Do cases of both discrimination and reverse
discrimination exist in our industry? No question. Is
it fair? No. Should all jobs be filled with best qualified
candidates regardless of race, creed, color, sex or severe
acne? Yes. Now stop your whining. Put yourself in management's
shoes. A new hire changes the makeup of an entire station...
and you'd better be sure you've got people on your staff
who reflect the demographics in your market. If that means
going into a hiring situation looking specifically for
a minority candidate so be it. Management must do what's
best for the station.
As painful as this reality can be for
those of us on the wrong side of the coin, consider it
in these terms. I don't expect to see a woman playing
center for the New York Giants any time soon. Nor do I
expect to see a male participating in the Hawaiian Tropic
model search. Sometimes certain positions require certain
pre-determined criteria. A notion which rings especially
true in our industry.
That said, I have two requests for management.
First, even if you think you've determined such pre-hire
criteria... please give all candidates a look. I doubt
many people believed Eminem could rap before they actually
listened to him. At least give a talented candidate outside
your "mold" a chance to change your mind; regardless
of sex, creed or color.
And second, keep your pre-search criteria
to your self. "We would prefer to hire a woman,"
is not an acceptable statement in a job listing. Not now,
not ever.
Dave Benz is the CEO / President
of Sportscastingjobs.com. In addition to his duties operating
the web-site he hosts a weekly Dallas Cowboys radio show
for Fox Sports Radio in Dallas, TX. Dave has worked as
an on-air sportscaster for more than 8 years. He has been
a TV sports anchor / reporter in Utica, Green Bay, Miami,
West Palm Beach and Dallas.
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