Judging Panel for MCC Young Female Broadcaster of the Year Announced

The judging panel for the inaugural MCC Young Female Broadcaster of the Year competition has been announced.

The panel includes leading figures from cricket media with former England international and Sky Sports broadcaster Mark Butcher, writer and BBC commentator Alison Mitchell, The Hundred presenter Jaqueline Shepperd and Sky Sports Head of Cricket Bryan Henderson joining MCC Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Katie Maier. The panel will be chaired by former England international and current broadcaster, Isa Guha.

The competition, launched last month at England v Pakistan Women’s T20 international at Edgbaston, aims to encourage and support the next generation of female cricket broadcasting talent and address the underrepresentation of females in the industry.

MCC are working alongside Sky Sports and leading cricket charity Take Her Lead, founded by Isa Guha, on the new initiative to provide more opportunities for females in cricket with the winner set to be part of the Sky Sports broadcast team at The Hundred Final at Lord’s on August 18.

The winner and five shortlisted runners-up will be invited to Lord’s for England’s Metro Bank Women’s T20 International against New Zealand on Wednesday 17 July. During the day they will be invited to meet the Sky and BBC teams working on the live match coverage and representatives from Take Her Lead.

The competition is aimed at budding female cricket broadcasters, aged between 18-24, looking to take their first steps in the industry with entries to be via submission of video or audio showreel of a match commentary, match report, or a presenter clip.

"I’m looking forward to being part of such a prestigious panel and unearthing a potential star.”

Isa Guha, Founder of Take Her Lead, commented:

“We’ve assembled a top team of experienced experts from across the cricket media to be on our judging panel. They’ll be looking closely at the showreels and submissions and have the difficult task of agreeing and deciding our winner and runners-up and who knows, a future leading broadcaster.

"It’s an incredible prize and opportunity for the winner so with only two weeks to go until entries close I’d encourage anyone who is thinking of entering to send in their showreel. It could be you at Lord’s as part of the Sky Sports team for The Hundred Final in August.”

Sky Sports presenter and NCTJ (National Council of Training of Journalists) Multimedia Journalism graduate Jacqueline Shepherd, added:

“We know that the number of women who go into sports journalism and broadcasting still lags behind men, so it is vital that we give young females the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

"Having graduated in sports journalism and then got the opportunity to work with the Sky Sports team, I know how important this competition is to giving young women the chance to forge a career in the industry. I’m looking forward to being part of such a prestigious panel and unearthing a potential star.”

For more information and to enter the competition, visit the link below.

Enter Now

The closing date for entries is midday on Thursday 27 June 2024.