Sky News star Sophy Ridge’s astonishing confession on battling sexism in TV
ok.co.ukWhen she began her career as a political broadcast journalist in a male-dominated landscape, Sophy Ridge was mistaken first for a make-up artist, and then for a weather girl.
Fast-forward to now and she’s a key member of Sky News’ political presenting team, alongside fellow female power players Kay Burley and Beth Rigby.The change is happening across the board.The BBC had Laura Kuenssberg fronting its election coverage with Clive Myrie, and Emily Maitlis made her TV news return with a special election night appearance for Channel 4 alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy. “I’ve been in political journalism for about 10 years and I’ve definitely seen a real change,” says Sophy, 39. “When I first started I remember being mistaken for a make-up artist, and going to the conference and someone, who is a very senior politician now, thinking that I was a weather presenter.
It just shows that people were not used to seeing women in political journalism then, but that just would not happen now.” Sophy credits her colleagues and peers for making the change happen and is grateful to Sky colleague Adam Boulton for generously mentoring her. “There have been a lot of really inspiring women,” says Sophy. “At Sky I can think of people like Kay Burley or Beth Rigby, but also elsewhere, we have Laura Kuenssberg, Emily Maitlis and Emma Barnett.
It has really changed – so you don’t feel like the only panda at the zoo any more.” Kay and Beth hosted Sky News’ Election Night Live and their team handed over to Sophy Ridge, Sam Coates and Adam Boulton at on Friday, live from Westminster.
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