Media
What could sports coverage look like if it werent always from a male perspective?
One evening in February 2017,Ellen Hyslop, Jacie deHoop, and Roslyn McLartymet up at McLartys apartment.
This was supposed to be a rebuild year!
And then here comes Matthews the only Leafs player to make the All-Star Team!
and it was looking like finally,finally, the playoffs were a possibility.)
I was so excited about it, says Hyslop.
And with that, The Gist was born.
It still just felt like this boys club, says deHoop.
(More than 80% of sports writers and reporters are men, according to a2021 study.)
The Gist aims to be anything but that.
The founders admit it took a minute to find their voice, however.
We would use so much slang.
Wed use so many exclamation points.
Wed be writing in all caps, says deHoop.
But after feedback, the team modified its writing to sound more professional.
Hyslop also wrote all of the early content herself.
Stats-focused coverage doesnt provide that necessary context, but The Gist does.
Its readers have taken notice.
Its different because it prioritizes those playing over the game, says Anderson-Smith.
Anderson-Smith was unaware of the issues plaguing hockey culture before she read that article.
The companys inclusive approach seems to be working.
Its revenue has more than doubled year over year, according to the company.
They want to be part of the conversation, Hyslop says.
They want to be part of the community, and now theyre finally being welcomed in.
