Journalism grad lands job as first Canadian female NBA host in U.S.
Ryerson journalism grad Kelcey Wright Johnson is the only Canadian female NBA host in the U.S.A. Photo: Fox Sports Southeast.
In 2014, landed her first job in journalism. As the industry grappled with the digital era, by 2015, she had been laid-off twice.
From there, she managed to string together a series of writing and on-camera gigs, including working with TSN, DAZN Canada, Yahoo Canada Sports, and the Toronto Argos and Toronto Marlies (through Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment).
While it was exciting, none of it was permanent.
By 2019 鈥 it was a whole new ball game for the Ryerson journalism grad: Wright Johnson landed her dream job as NBA host and digital contributor for the Memphis Grizzlies, making her the only Canadian female NBA host in the U.S.A.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 what you think you鈥檙e meant to do, don鈥檛 stop,鈥 said the 29-year-old, who studied journalism at Ryerson from 2009-2013.
鈥淚t would have been so easy to quit, but if you really love something, perseverance is key,鈥 she said.
As we鈥檙e chatting, Wright Johnson is walking to her new office 鈥 the FedExForum, where the Grizzlies play. Since her work visa only came through in November, she only moved there fairly recently 鈥 and hosted her first game on Dec. 3, 2019.
Was she nervous?
鈥淣ot at all, I鈥檇 waited for so long for the opportunity. Your athletic competiveness comes out 鈥 it鈥檚 just like in sport. You put in all the work and do all the prep 鈥 when the camera turns on you鈥檙e ready to go 鈥 just like when the ball鈥檚 thrown up,鈥 she said, likening the opening of a broadcast to the tip-off of a basketball game.
If it鈥檚 starting to sound like basketball is in her blood 鈥 you鈥檙e right.
Her mom, Penny Wright, is the first female to referee a men鈥檚 university basketball game in Canada (鈥渟he鈥檚 a trailblazer of her own,鈥 Wright Johnson said), her dad, Rob Wright, is co-chair of Basketball Canada, and her husband is also a coach.
鈥淔or my brother and I growing up, that鈥檚 just what you did 鈥 you played basketball,鈥 she said, adding that she holds the record for the highest number of three-pointers in a four-year career for the Ryerson Rams.
Kelcey Wright Johnson says as a female NBA host, she鈥檚 held to a higher professional standard than her male counterparts. Photo: Instagram.
鈥楴ot easy to be a female鈥 in male-dominated game
While combining her two loves 鈥 basketball and journalism 鈥 seems an obvious choice, it wasn鈥檛 always so clear in her mind.
Years ago, she was inspired by a book her grandma gave her about a foreign correspondent 鈥 Fifteen Days, by Christie Blatchford.
But during her post-graduate degree (more journalism training and the chance to keep playing varsity basketball), she won an internship to cover the World University Games in Russia.
鈥淲hen I got back from that, I was like, 鈥業 need to be in sports,鈥欌 she said.
鈥淎s a woman you have to make sure your sports knowledge is 100 times more than your male counterpart.鈥
It was a realization she鈥檚 held on to, despite challenges that are particular to sports journalism 鈥 especially for women.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to be a female, I can tell you that,鈥 she said.
To illustrate, she says when she released her first featuring two star players, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., half the comments were about the content 鈥 and half were about her.
Some suggested she got the job through improper means. Others said she was 鈥渢oo fat or too skinny.鈥
She also says she鈥檚 held to a different standard professionally.
鈥淎s a woman you have to make sure your sports knowledge is 100 times more than your male counterpart,鈥 she said.
鈥淢y male co-host could say it鈥檚 a 鈥榟igh percentage shooting team.鈥 But if I said that, people would be like, 鈥楽he doesn鈥檛 know her stats.鈥 So I have to be able to say, 鈥楾hey鈥檙e shooting 61 per cent from the field,鈥欌 she explained. 鈥淚 feel like I have to over-prepare for everything.鈥
Kelcey Wright Johnson interviews Grizzlies鈥 star players Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. for her podcast. Photo: JUST GRIZZLIES PODCAST.
Praises Ryerson journalism school
Ryerson helped prepare her for the job, she said, noting 鈥渢hey throw everything at you, it鈥檚 the best school for a reason.鈥 She praises professors Gary Gould and Paul Woods and adds that Ryerson鈥檚 downtown location is a huge advantage for budding storytellers.
Given the journey she鈥檚 been on, what would she say to future journalists?
To both males and females interested in sports media, she cautions it takes far more than being a sports fan to succeed.
鈥淵ou have to really love the journalism side more than the basketball side. Because, take yesterday, for example 鈥 the basketball side was two hours, but the journalism side was 13,鈥 she said.
She also says, given the challenges of an evolving industry, digital skills are crucial, noting major networks are building new digital studios and social media teams are vital.
Lastly, she says, 鈥淟earn to take rejection, because you鈥檙e going to be rejected a billion times before someone says yes.鈥
But, as she knows firsthand, 鈥淚t takes just one yes.鈥
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