Sports journalists are the lifeblood of the sports world. They keep fans up to date on the latest news and developments in their favourite sport, whether it’s cricket, hockey or football. Fatima loved sports from an early age, watching cricket, football and field hockey for hours with her family. She also swam competitively in her youth. She rolled that love of the game into a career, becoming a sports anchor for Geo News, where she became one of the few female sports journalists in the country in 2007. Since then, she has been doing sports reporting, anchoring, presentation, and all sort of sports coverage. The first major event she covered was the Beijing Olympics, then the Cricket World Cup in 2009.
In 2013, Fatima was selected by an ESPN programme in the US. She was the only Pakistani sports journalist at the programme and her work was praised by the journalist fraternity across the whole world. Fatima is also co-founder of ‘Go Girl Pakistan,’ an organisation that believes in empowering women through sports. This week in a candid interview with You! Fatima shares her passion for sports and how it feels to be a female sports journalist in Pakistan. Read on…
You! What motivated you to become a sports journalist?
Fatima Saleem: I always grew up watching sports because of my father and brothers so the interest was always there but I never imagined being a sports broadcaster. My interest grew in university when I attended a sports journalism workshop, Andrew Miller from ESPN had come in for a session and that’s when I knew sports reporting is something I want to do in future. In a parallel universe if not this then I would have definitely been a weather reporter.
You! What are some of your favourite sports to cover?
FS: I have been covering all kind of sports since 17 years with Geo television. As a professional reporter, I cover every sports event with the same enthusiasm. So, all sports are my favourite considering I have covered all sports under the sun from archery to a donkey cart race, from cricket world cup to kabaddi etc.
You! Growing up, what women in sports did you look up to?
FS: Steffi Graph because she was so good at what she did. Her humour, her skills and overall personality; I was always in awe. Also, I always looked up to Billie Jean King because she is a legend, a pioneer in tennis and always used her status to advocate women in sports.
You! What are the essential qualities of a good sports journalist?
FS: Sports knowledge in general matters the most and of course excellent verbal communication skills. You need to be open to criticism and work well under pressure. Honestly at the end of the day nobody will remember what you wore but will remember what you said. A journalist who is always eager to learn despite their seniority will always remain relevant and credible.
You! Who has been your mentor?
FS: At Geo News, my bosses who let me be me every time I go on air. At home, it has been my mother who pushed me to do better. She is my best and worst critic and it has helped me grow and stay grounded always. After I got married, it has been my husband who has always pushed me to grow. There were days when I would come home and say ‘I’m done’ but my husband and mother support always encouraged me to keep going.
You! Being a woman sports anchor, what kind of challenges do you encounter?
FS: Once you are in the public eye everyone will think it’s their right to comment on everything, may it be your appearance or what you say. You also hear things like ‘girls don’t cover sports’, and you get side-lined for major events. I got a lot of hate mail on social media, especially being a woman wearing blazers and western clothes talking about sports. It is frustrating but you have to fight for it. In fact, in the beginning of my career I was demotivated by many and I was often told to switch fields and cover arts or entertainment news instead. However, they just got sick and tired of sending negative comments, and they soon realised I was here to stay.
You! What has been your most career-defining moment that you are proud of?
FS: In the past 17 years there have been many fabulous moments in my life and I take every event and moment as career defining, but covering Nasim Hameed who holds the title of the fastest woman of Asia from her house in Korangi was something I can never forget. A girl from an under privileged area dreaming big and achieving it was a game changer for women in sports. I was at her house all day with a crowd of people who were on the streets to welcome her! Fathers saying they want their daughters to be like Nasim was just truly enthralling. I was also part of the global sports empowering programme and where I was mentored by the best at ESPN and it really changed my perspective and thinking and my life has never been the same ever since.
You! What does it mean to you to be a woman sports anchor in Pakistan?
FS: I feel so proud of myself. I’m proud that despite so many challenges I stuck around and the respect given to me in stadiums and outside is just so humbling. If I have inspired someone I think it’s an achievement.
That’s what you do. You show up every day. They might call you stubborn but it’s about setting a precedent that you are not going anywhere and you are here to stay. I work really hard to stay on top of my game and now things have changed in Pakistan and people are more accepting of women reporter, hosts, commentators and coaches. We have come a long way.
You! What are some of the barriers in driving the visibility of women’s sports in Pakistan?
FS: Mind-set, family pressures and being told sports is not a career, to state just a few. There are not many female coaches and grounds for women where they can practice their choice of sports freely. We need more female coaches; we need places and grounds dedicated to women only. More serious sponsors are also the need of the day. Change needs to start at the family level, with mothers and fathers supporting the idea of daughters kicking, running, jumping and enjoying all facets of sports.
You! How do you keep up with the latest news in the sports world?
FS: Television, both national and international and you have to know well credited websites. I frequently visit ESPN and BBC sports websites and lots of YouTube channels to catch up on what’s going on.
You! What would you do if you were assigned to cover a sport you knew very little about?
FS: I’m not ashamed to ask for help, for instance once while covering kabaddi (since I didn’t know the technical aspects), without hesitation I would pick up the phone and ask for help either from a colleague or the concerned federation representative and I took lots of notes from the internet.
You! What do you think is the most important aspect of a sports journalist’s job?
FS: Staying neutral and stating pure facts, and that’s such a hard thing to do in this industry. Unbiased reporting is the key. You will only be credible and gain trust when you ensure that your content is accurate and fair. It is tough but then, it is what it is.
You! What future do you foresee for women sports anchors and journalists in Pakistan?
FS: We are definitely a minority in sports at the moment but it will change when we have more women sports writers and when universities will offer sports journalism courses.
Once sports in Pakistan was watched and played mostly by men and men talked about it. Thanks to our senior women sports journalists who made a presence in the media room and on the screen. Analysing the game, grabbing a chair in the commentary box and having a say is really an achievement. They have paved the way for us and now it is up to the current lot to inspire upcoming journalists.
You! What advice would you give to inspiring female sports journalists?
FS: Don’t get discouraged easily. People will advise you and force you to follow their advice, but you don’t need to. Some people used to say I smile a lot and I should control that. But I say, smile if you want to, laugh if you want to. You do not have to follow every advice.
If this is what you want to do, then stick to it. Show up every single day. I did, despite so many challenges. I have two kids under the age of 7 and leaving them is never easy. So, every day I walk in the studio like a boss and I know my girls will be proud of me.
You! What should be done to promote sports in Pakistan, especially for women?
FS: The number one thing we can do is to support our women players by watching their games in stadiums. Parents should show up for their daughters playing at school events. We need safe and secure places dedicated to women only. Imagine one ground only for women where they can practice their choice of sport. We need more female coaches. If we can have foreign coaches for men’s cricket team, why not female foreign coaches for women?
You! Can you tell us a bit about your organisation ‘Go Girl Pakistan’?
FS: While I was at the Global Sports Mentoring Programme, a joint effort between espnW and the US Department of State, we were given a task to come with a plan on how to empower women in sports back in our countries, that’s when the idea of ‘Go Girl Pakistan’ (GGP) was conceived. Launched in February 2014, the goal of GGP was to set up football clinics all around Karachi, where girls, ages 5 to 12, could have a safe place to play soccer and other sports via no-cost clinics run by professional women coaches. Go Girl started hosting free ‘Daddy & Me’ soccer clinics, followed by ‘Mommy & Me’ events. It worked like magic. I started with clinics in Karachi that served about 100 girls, with plans to expand to other cities in Pakistan. However, funding constraints do at times mean programs are paused. Money must be collected to pay coaches and rent venues for the clinics. I hope to resume these clinics soon. Now, that I have two girls I really want to set an example as I always tell them that girls who play sports live happily ever after!
You! What does a typical day look like for you?
FS: Ha-ha, I feel like I’m on the go all the time. I wake up early with my kids send them to school, go to gym and then head to the studio. Once I am done, I spend time with the kids and once they are tucked in bed, I am back to work but this time it’s a restaurant where I am a partner, so yes sometimes I feel like 24 hours is not enough for me
You! How do you balance work and home?
FS: It’s not easy balancing work and home. I am usually rushing from work to a play date. It sounds exciting but it’s not actually.
You! Your philosophy of life:
FS: I have learnt the art of living through trial and error. So my basic philosophy revolves around letting go. Don’t keep grudges in your heart. Do whatever you like and let me do whatever pleases me.
You! What is your biggest indulgence at home?
FS: I love reading magazines. I wear my favourite PJs, get comfortable on my sofa and just binge watch TV shows etc.
You! What is your most treasured possession?
FS: My family.
You! What did you like to read when you were a little girl?
FS: Reader’s Digest, ‘Sweet Valley Twins’ (book series) and ‘Archie Comics’.
You! What is the biggest relationship lesson you have learnt so far?
FS: Communicate with your partner. You can’t expect your partner to assume how you feel about a situation, you have to speak for yourself and express your thoughts and concerns respectfully. Also, relationships are beautiful when you respect each other.
You! What scope do you see for yourself in the future?
FS: I am not going anywhere that's for sure. I love my job and I am still learning new things every day. I do have interest in production and would love to work on sports documentaries in future.
Erum Noor Muzaffar is the Editor of You! magazine. She can be reached at iram29hotmail.com