Kianna Klauck didn’t need a long to-do list and busy shift to keep her happy at work on March 24.
The Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) alumna who works for Dome Productions was happy just to take in all the hubbub around her that day.
Klauck was doing graphics work on the Toronto Raptors-Denver Nuggets NBA game featuring an all-female crew on camera. It was the first time in NBA history a crew of women, including fellow BRTF alumna Amy Audibert, hosted, analyzed and called a game.
Audibert will participate in a virtual Ask an Alumni event on Wednesday, March 31 at 1 p.m. on Instagram Live (@NiagaraCollege).
“It was such a positive environment to be in,” said Klauck, who graduated in 2017. “Even if someone said ‘You have nothing to do today,’ I’d be like ‘Cool, I’m just going to sit and take it all in.’ ”
A basketball fan herself, and former player for the NC Knights, Klauck was in her element watching WNBA star Kia Nurse, who was the colour analyst that night alongside Audibert, play-by-play broadcaster Meghan McPeak, sideline reporter Kayla Grey and host Kate Beirness.
Kianna Klauck (centre) stands with WNBA star Kia Nurse (left) and play-by-play commentator Meghan McPeak, who were part of the all-female on-air crew that hosted a Toronto’s Raptors game on Wednesday, March 24.
But more than that, it was seeing three Black women — Nurse, McPeak, and Grey — in prominent on-camera roles on a day history was made.
“Canadian media in general, not just sports, is starting to push to get more diverse faces in front of the camera, but for a Raptors game, and in Toronto and Canada, you always want to see people who represent you,” Klauck said.
“I think the message was young girls and young boys, but especially young girls, are going to see themselves reflected on screen,” she added. “I’m sure there were young girls watching this saying ‘I can do that.’ I feel that’s a big step for the industry.”
Klauck was joined behind the scenes by fellow BRTF alumna and Dome Productions colleague Kristyn Taras.
Taras, who also graduated in 2017, served as second engineer on the production, and noted a similar vibe from her perch inside the mobile production facility, away from the studio.
“Overall, people were excited to be involved in such a historic event like that and people were excited to see some progress for women in the industry,” Taras said. “It was a normal game, but we all knew the significance it held and it was exciting.”
Kristyn Taras served as second engineer on last week’s broadcast of a Toronto Raptor’s game with an all-female on-air crew.
Taras noted that since starting her career four years ago, she’s sometimes the only woman on a production crew, particularly when she travels to the U.S. Still, there are more women breaking into the industry now than when some of her more senior colleagues started their careers.
Progress has been made, but there’s still room for more, she said.
“When I started in the industry, there were a lot more females starting in roles in production and on-air (than previously),” Taras said. “It was enough where you feel comfortable but little enough that you can still sense that women don’t have the same opportunities men do.
“It’s funny because after four years, you adapt to it and get used it,” she added. “I never really thought about it until this past year when we had more women on our crews and actively recruited more women. It’s really exciting for me.”
