By: Caroline Conner
Karmen Morrison is using her voice and background in sports to make a difference. A Jacksonville, Florida native, Karmen is passionate about women’s sports and advocating for the next generation of female athletes.
“I’m all things women’s sports”
Karmen began her academic and athletic journey at Riverside High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where she completed the school’s “Early College” program. She was a standout athlete, playing basketball, volleyball and flag football. She was her city’s “Female Athlete of the Year” her senior year, which prompted her to be interviewed by several local news outlets. She says she, “liked the environment,” of these interviews and that she “felt like I could do the same thing,” which is how she discovered her passion for media and journalism.
Now, she has earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in media communications and master’s in journalism from UGA. She has built her media/journalism resume throughout her college experience through unique opportunities, such as when she got to interview Florida State’s softball coach, Lonni Alameda, during which they discussed the future of the Women’s College World Series. Karmen said that that interview was, “one of my favorite interviews I’ve done.” Now she says interviews are “for sure” her favorite part of journalism.
She just graduated from UGA in May and is currently serving as an assistant teacher at their journalism/multimedia summer academy for high school students. “I think for me, if I had had the opportunity to go to a camp like this, I would’ve.” She also explains that her purpose revolves around, “sharing what I know with you guys [summer academy campers].” Her passion for journalism/media has helped her on her journey to advocate for women’s sports.
“I think it’s all about equality,” she said. “For me, representation matters.”
She explained how her experience on her high school’s women’s basketball team helped inspire her passion for this issue, when she saw favoritism being given to the football players.
“They were always getting free shirts, and we were district champs year after year after year, and I’m like, ‘why don’t we get any free shirts?’ “You see the disparity.”
Now, she works hard to support and advocate for women’s sports, citing an important need for “equality” and “representation.” She speaks out via her social media platforms and stories she has written. She explained how important representation of minorities is in sports, which she says hits close to home given she is an African American.
Her discovery of journalism and media has helped her speak out on issues she cares about, and she hopes to be a strong force for change in the world of female athletics.
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