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This story is part of our CSC 360 package for October 2023, to view more stories, click here.
Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Brandon Berrio (LSU), Isaac Comelli (Cal State Bakersfield), Paul Coro (Grand Canyon), Francis Forte (Dartmouth), Bruna Pacheco (Fontbonne), Tony Venegas (Belmont Abbey), Tyler Price (Heart of America Conference), Cody Soto (Baylor), Bridgette Robles (Richmond), and Alex Gutierrez (WPI).
Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month Spotlight
Growing the Game: What it means to be Latinx in athletic communications
by Tony Venegas – Belmont Abbey College, Director of Athletics Communications // CSC Diversity & Inclusion Committee member
and Chad Cooper – Drexel University, Assistant Director Athletic Communications // CSC Diversity & Inclusion Committee member
Across the United States, Latino (or Hispanic) Heritage Month has become a celebration of culture and history across all walks of life. That includes, but is certainly not limited to, the world of athletic communications.
According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. Latino population reached 63.6 million in 2022, a 26% increase since 2010. Across most fields, there has been an increase in the number of Latinos being represented in everything from engineering, education, business and many more.
“It’s important for people to see the diversity the world has,” said
Cody Soto at Baylor University. “There are so many incredibly different people out there that it would be a shame if that is not represented in workplace settings, media and so much more.”
One area still looking for that same growth is within the world of athletic communications. As of last week, the College Sports Communicators membership database had just over 50 members who identified as Latino/Hispanic. In a world where representation is taking more and more importance, there is still plenty of work to be done in terms of increasing the representation of Latinos (Latinx) in the field.
“The main challenge is to get across the importance of representation in several facets of the workplace with the hope that it becomes a given consideration,” said
Paul Coro from Grand Canyon University.
As part of Hispanic & Latino Heritage month, College Sports Communicators is taking a closer look at what being Latino means to a group of current athletic communications professionals and what they have experienced working at their respective institutions.
“Representation is essential for people to know that they are not alone and as a result people, feel more included.” says
Bruna Pacheco from Fontbonne University. “During my time as an undergraduate student, I have met several foreign coaches, but only Americans working in athletic departments. I didn’t know it was possible to work in athletic communications.”
Isaac Comelli, at Cal State Bakersfield agrees.
“Representation is very important for ethnic minorities. Looking around the workplace and seeing other people who share the same cultural background as you is empowering.”
One reason why representation is important is that many students or student-athletes may be unaware of communications as a potential work field without having seen someone similar to them doing it. According to the NCAA Demographics Database, in 2021-22, the ratio of Hispanic student-athletes to communications personnel was 501-to-1. While that is an improvement from 581-to-1 in 2012-13, it still lags far behind the overall total of 170-to-1 and other minorities, such as the Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population (300-to-1).
“I believe it is a profession that in our culture isn't spoken of a lot,” says
Genesis Silvestre from Florida Atlantic University. “A career in athletics other than a professional athlete or a coach isn't discussed in our culture.”
Francis Forte at Dartmouth echoed that sentiment.
“The lack of knowledge around our profession prevents many from entering our field and goes double for those with diverse backgrounds. For many, the idea of working in athletic communications is not even presented as a possibility. I know countless people in athletic communications that fell into the business and fell in love. While this is a testament to how enjoyable our jobs can be, it is important to present this line of work as a possibility to people of all backgrounds at an earlier age.”
It can be especially difficult for Latina women to find a place in the communications field.
“I’ve had a lot of the general tropes that have hit all females in the business at one point or another,” remarked
Bridgette Robles from the University of Richmond. “Such as, I only got into the business because I wanted to marry an athlete; that I will always try to work back to where my parents are living because I will get homesick; that despite being overqualified for a role, not getting the job because the company doesn’t trust their athletes or that I’m interviewed because HR wants a minority interviewed.”
One common thread for many was being proud of their cultural background and experiences.
“Being born and raised in New York and later moving to South Florida, I have been around others with the same background often. I have always embraced my heritage and background. Staying true to myself and where I came from is something that has shaped me into the person I am today,” said Silvestre.
Forte added to that thought.
“My Ecuadorian heritage, along with my Italian background, has shaped how I approach my job because it has shaped who I am as an individual. I grew up in a family with both Italian and Ecuadorian heritage, and seeing how both sides of my family came together in joyous and solemn times shaped how I approach day-to-day life. This extends into my professional career, as I was fortunate enough to be raised in a family that was built upon a foundation of diverse backgrounds.”
Mariah Rodriguez from California Baptist contributed another layer to the conversation.
“While I’m proud of my heritage and culture I come from, my worth is found only in Jesus and He has shaped who I am today. I enjoy working at an institution that values this as well and everything I do is for the glory of God.”
One thing that was common among all the respondents was a sense of pride in their community and the work they put forth.
“I take pride in the fact that co-workers become friends,” said
Steven Olveda from Chapman University. “That I enjoy going to work…almost every day. That I’ve gotten to mentor and work with some truly fantastic people who are thriving in their chosen career paths. I take pride in the fact that my opinions and my work are valued by coaches and administrators in our department.”
“After being in athletic communications for seven years, I am proud of the accomplishments I have had thus far,” remarked Silvestre. “(I’m) grateful for the people that I have learned from and who have pushed me to be the best version of myself. Being a Latina working at Florida Atlantic University and working at the Miami HEAT and Miami Marlins it is an honor to represent our culture.”
Comelli summed it up by saying how many people in the field feel.
“Even after long nights, weekends, or road trips, I go home tired, but feeling satisfied knowing that I did a good job. I have always prided myself in going above and beyond and I love that this job is so diverse. Plus, as I always tell people ‘At the end of the day, I get paid to watch sports, so it’s not a bad gig.’”
NOTE: Although not quoted, we would like to thank Brandon Berrio (LSU), Alex Gutierrez (WPI) and Tyler Price (Heart of America Conference) for their contributions in helping to shape the content in this article.
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