The Melbourne Press Club (MPC), in with the support of the South Melbourne Football Club (SMFC), will organise a forum titled ‘The World Cup, Women’s Sport, and Journalism: Where to From Here?’ on August 8 at SMFC Lakeside Stadium.

The event aims to address the current state of women’s sports coverage in media and explore opportunities for further advancement. Australians all anxiously wait for the Matildas’ match against Canada on Tuesday in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The coverage of the Matildas and women’s football during the World Cup has witnessed unprecedented levels of interest and media attention.

The MPC, Victoria’s leading lobby and advocacy body for journalists, wants to assess the larger context of women in sports media and examine whether the FIFA Women’s World Cup will translate into increased media coverage for other women’s sports in the future.

The panellists for the event include Gabriela Garton, who has a distinguished career in women’s football, representing Argentina in the 2019 World Cup and being part of Melbourne Victory’s 2021 W-League grand final win.

Nana Owusu-Afriyie, an Australian and New Balance track and field athlete, co-hosts The Wattle Nest Show for The Glory on the SEN App and is involved in sports media and broadcasting. Marnie Vinall, a sports journalist at The Age, is covering the World Cup and both men’s and women’s competitions in AFL. Dr. Kasey Symons, a Research Fellow in Swinburne University’s Sport Innovation Research Group, specializes in research on women in sport, sports media, and fan engagement. Dr. Symons is also a co-founder of the women in sport media collective, Siren Sport, and is a Melbourne Press Club Quill-nominated sportswriter.

Bill Papastergiadis OAM, the Chair of SMFC, who will introduce the event, has expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership with the MPC. He highlighted “the club’s deep commitment to women’s football and in increasing coverage of women’s sports.”

“South Melbourne [FC] looks forward to advancing into the new B-League expansion, driven by its historical significance and roots in Greek migrant communities and as a pioneer for advancing diversity across all areas.”

“As a historic and pioneering team, reflecting its origins from Greek immigrants and being a pioneer to bolster the careers of diverse Australian, we naturally embrace the expansion of our women’s and girls’ teams,” Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos.

South Melbourne Football Club (SMFC), formerly known as South Melbourne Hellas club, was established in 1959 by Greek migrants and has evolved into one of the most culturally diverse soccer clubs in Australia.

SMFC boasts four Australian national championships, several Victorian State League titles, numerous Dockerty Cups, and has represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship. The club’s prestigious history includes being coached by Ange Postecoglou, who gained fame coaching Celtic and is currently with Tottenham Hotspur.

With the efforts of the Melbourne Press Club and the South Melbourne Football Club, the forum promises to be a step towards fostering greater coverage and recognition of women’s sports, and ensuring a more inclusive future for sports media in Australia.

When: Tuesday, August 8, 11am – 1pm

Where: Lakeside Stadium 33 Aughtie Drive Albert Park

Cost: $10 members and non-members $5 students

Includes morning tea and refreshments.

Bookings here.