Sports Illustrated writer slammed for sexism against men

Ed Werder, who was caught in the blast radius of ESPN’s layoff apocalypse last year, just ensured he won’t be in the good graces of the “worldwide leader” or much of anyone else in sports journalism anytime soon.

Sports Illustrated posted a job vacancy Monday morning, saying it was looking for an entry-level writer in New York.

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

Charlotte Wilder, who works for the magazine, decided to take the opportunity to encourage women to apply in the male-dominated world of sports writing.

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

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This raised the hackles of Werder, who saw Wilder’s encouraging her sisters in the aspiring journalist community as an attack on men.

So men need not apply? Any others ineligible? https://t.co/GwcCrFtmak

— Ed Werder (@EdwerderRFA) June 18, 2018

Which is not at all what Wilder said, as she quickly snapped back:

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

Eventually, Twitter at large got hold of the beef, and Werder’s name started trending to near universal scorn from men and women alike on the platform.

That his first instinct is to equate an encouragement toward women with a threat toward men says so, so much.

— Dayana Sarkisova (@dsarkisova) June 18, 2018

Keep in mind that SI’s original job announcement did not mention gender. Labor law forbids them from looking specifically for any class of person, white or black, man or woman.

SI’s employees are, however, under no such restriction, and Wilder wasn’t the only one taking the opportunity to call for diversity at the magazine.

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ED WERDER DON'T READ THIS

Sports writers (especially of color!) looking to join a cool place with cool people ……. hellohttps://t.co/S52991JksL

— Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) June 18, 2018

The backlash got so severe that only a “Rocky IV” quote would do.

If that’s the hill Ed Werder wanna die on then pic.twitter.com/3CuS01LylR

— Kofie (@KofieYeboah) June 18, 2018

Britt McHenry, meanwhile, steered the conversation back to the spirit of SI’s original job posting.

Ed Werder is the most talented NFL reporter I’ve ever met. He just made the Pro Football Hall last year. As a woman, I too can say the best applicant should get a job regardless of race or gender. Reality is in media, those two things often get pushed first now. https://t.co/BKRik4U1Zp

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) June 18, 2018

And that’s what’s at the root of this debate.

Sports Illustrated will (and should) hire the best writer for the job regardless of color or gender. If that’s a white man, great. If that’s a black or Hispanic woman, also great. If it’s an androgynous little green alien from Mars, I can’t wait to read its Op-Ed about ray guns and the Second Amendment.

The point is, if you can bring something worthwhile to the conversation, you should get the job.

We don’t call Suzy Kolber and Doris Burke “diversity hires” or “pretty good for a girl” or anything of the sort. Instead, we celebrate them for being knowledgeable and professional. NBA Twitter couldn’t go five minutes during the Finals without someone saying Burke should replace Mark Jackson on the ESPN broadcasts.

Werder inserted himself into a conversation about women networking into jobs. And all he managed to do was get egg on his face and get destroyed by Twitter.

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated is hiring. May the best writer win.

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