Our LockerRoom section dedicated to women in sport welcomes its second fulltime journalist courtesy of a Sky Sport scholarship
As New Zealand enters the most momentous era in its history for women in sport, LockerRoom welcomes a new full-time writer, Merryn Anderson.
Anderson's appointment has come about thanks to a partnership with Sky Sport, a major supporter of our section in Newsroom dedicated to boosting the profile and coverage of Kiwi women in sport.
She will work alongside and be mentored by LockerRoom editor, Suzanne McFadden, during the two years of her scholarship. She follows Ashley Stanley, the first recipient of the Sky Sport-LockerRoom scholarship, who was named New Zealand Student Journalist of the Year in 2020.
Anderson grew up in a sports-mad family in Hamilton, where there was always sport in the background, and played netball through school.
In 2019, she graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Communication Studies. Although she majored in public relations and event management, she quickly realised she loved to write, in particular about sport.
Since then, she's been a freelance writer, contributing sports stories to the New Zealand Herald during the ANZ Premiership netball season and the Tokyo Olympics. She's also worked part-time as a writer for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic netball franchise.
Although netball remains her passion, Anderson says she's "ready to spread my wings" and write about all sports, and the women involved in them. Especially over the next two years when New Zealand hosts of the 'Big Four' events in international sport - three World Cups and the IWG Women and Sport conference.
"Sport is a huge part of New Zealand's identity, and it's important for us to have athletes to look up to," she says. "What I love about sport is the fact you never know what's going to happen next."
McFadden was excited to see a strong field apply for the writer role. "It reaffirms my belief that there are many women out there who want to write about sport, given the opportunity," she says. "Merryn's strength in storytelling and her rapport with people shone through."
Sky CEO Sophie Moloney is thrilled to welcome Anderson as the latest scholarship recipient.
“Our partnership with LockerRoom is one of the ways we strive to support and promote women in sport. Having the superb team at LockerRoom tell the stories of the wāhine we see on the sideline and on our screens - whether athlete, coach, mentor, fan or commentator - is critical to our shared goal to provide greater equity and balance," she says.
"We applaud Suzanne’s dedication to mentoring women journalists and to broadening the work of LockerRoom, and we are thrilled to play a part through our support for the Sky Sport scholarship programme.
"Haere mai Merryn – we can’t wait to see your contribution.”
