Dear readers,
First, let us say that you are wonderful. Amazing. Special. Each of you is alreaady our favorite. We’re so excited to have you here. Simply by reading the stories on this site, and enjoying the accompanying art, you’re helping promote gender equality in soccer media.
We here at Unusual Efforts have big dreams. We envision a world in which men no longer occupy 90 percent of soccer media jobs. We imagine opening a newspaper and seeing women’s bylines alongside soccer analysis. We want those annoying auto-play videos to feature women answering questions rather than simply asking them. We hope for a time, in the not-so-distant-future, when the default voice calling the game is not male and British.
We are working toward the day in which women can occupy any and every space in soccer media. Everything from coding an outlet’s website to producing a league’s promotional video. From illustrating a club’s program to revamping its logo. From running data analysis to writing analysis to speaking analysis in front of the camera. We are here to prove that men do not need to dominate soccer media.
With such big dreams, we must start with a strong foundation. That foundation is this site, which will feature five in-depth articles per week, accompanied by original artwork. A bi-weekly podcast is in the works. Our Unusual Efforts magazine – available for preorder – will be published on June 1.
From there, we’ll continue to reach for our dreams. Video productions. Radio shows. Photo galleries. Columnists, staff writers, artists-in-residence. Mentorship programs. Networking events. If it helps alleviate gender inequality in soccer media, we’ll do our best to bring it to life. If it provides another platform for our contributors to showcase their work, we want to make it happen.
But on this day, April 1, we’ve already realized the first of our dreams by launching this site. And that’s thanks to you, you wonderful, amazing, special, favorite readers. As of this writing, we’ve raised over $9,000 for Unusual Efforts. Because we have so little overhead, the vast majority of that will go straight to our contributors – as we firmly believe that creatives should be paid in more than intangibles.
However, we also know the talent on display here deserves as wide an audience as possible, so we’re actively encouraging other outlets to use our site to diversify their own ranks. That’s right – poach away, editors! Unusual Efforts is ecstatic at the idea that our site might be a springboard, launching careers that revolutionize the industry.
Speaking of talent, it’s time to take it in. We’re absolutely thrilled to present Jessica Lopez’s piece on El Clásico and the myths that overshadow the history of Barcelona and Real Madrid, alongside Hannah Carroll’s gorgeous artwork. In the weeks to come, we’ll have everything from a heated derby from England’s non-league levels, to a look at how women players cope with aging, to a rundown of triumphs across the African continent – and much, much more.
And it’s thanks to you, dear readers. We might be writers and artists, but there’s no way we can fully express our gratitude. We only hope the website is a start.
Much love and appreciation,
Kirsten, Sonja, Elizabeth and Van
