Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | NFL | June 18, 2018
Ed Werder was a longtime NFL reporter for ESPN, beginning in 1998 until he was laid off in 2017. He was a staple at ESPN, and as I recall, people were pretty shocked when ESPN let him go as a part of a large round of layoffs at the network. He is now a sideline reporter for Westwood One radio.
Here’s a Twitter exchange he had this morning. I’m going to let you all draw your own conclusions about Werder based upon these tweets:
Sports Illustrated is hiring an entry-level breaking news writer based in NYC. Come join our team: https://t.co/UOlFMefXuc
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 18, 2018
If you can stand sitting near me in the office this is a v cool opportunity. Especially if you're a woman trying to get into sports, you should message me — DMs are open https://t.co/CI6uyFQAKV
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018
So men need not apply? Any others ineligible? https://t.co/GwcCrFtmak
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
Oh WOW you're right, Ed, sorry for attempting to make sports media more than 10% female, my bad
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018
I just always associated SI with hiring the best regardless of race, sex and other factors. https://t.co/hIMoWpbHfS
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
Well unfortunately a lot of women and people of color who ARE the best often get passed over during hiring processes at EVERY publication, so it's important to make an extra effort
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018
Oh so you’re saying the rest of the industry is racist and sexist except for you. https://t.co/lGkwqtBMHu
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
Can you even read? It's truly astounding that THAT is what you're taking away from these tweets
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018
Just read aloud what you WROTE. You essentially made it clear you’re excluding males regardless of ability. I READ the words you wrote. https://t.co/kO0x9TTZRa
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
This is clearly not a productive conversation but thanks for amplifying the job posting with your quote tweets, appreciate it
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 18, 2018
Make sure you hire the best applicant, regardless of the rest. https://t.co/RxsyEAyNgn
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
Wow. This is particularly disappointing coming from someone like you, Ed. No wonder so many women view the industry as hostile toward us.
— Sarah Baicker (@sbbaicker) June 18, 2018
Except I’m not the one who excluded anybody. She did that. I opened it to all applicants and encouraged them to hire the best. https://t.co/V2k9szIVjM
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
@TheWilderThings encouraging women to apply for a position isn't the same thing as "excluding" men. it's helping female applicants network, which can be a challenge given the massive gender imbalance in our industry (which I'm sure you know exists).
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 18, 2018
Read her original post as an aspiring young male sports writer and tell me she’s not disqualifying you from getting the job. https://t.co/cs2FVTCJk8
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
Did you get laid off from Espn in favor of a woman? Why so upset?
— murph (@MMurphy226) June 18, 2018
Because next week I’m going to be standing in front of a broadcasting class of young people and some will be males and I have to tell them they have the same chance at jobs like those one as all others. https://t.co/XYAvjmRrij
— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018
I feel like there’s only one acceptable response to this.
