RTA Media Production alum makes history as fifth woman to ever PA announce at an MLB game
Nikki Jeffrey, an RTA Media Production alum and current In-Game and Events Host for the Toronto Blue Jays, recently reached a significant milestone in sports broadcasting history: being the fifth woman in the history of Major League Baseball to take centre stage as the Public Address (PA) Announcer at an MLB game.
Nikki Jeffrey, In-Game and Events host for the Toronto Blue Jay’s
The RTA Media Production program at The Creative School has long been recognized for its academic excellence in creating industry-ready graduates in sports broadcasting, and it was for this reason that Jeffrey applied and later graduated from the prestigious program in 2016.
Bolstered by a community of aspiring peers, supportive professors and industry executives, Jeffrey knew that the program was right for her the second she started. “When I started in the RTA Media Production program, I truly felt like I had found my people,” stated Jeffrey. “People with similar interests, creativity, and outgoing personalities.”
This combination of connections, knowledge and passion cemented her goal to pursue a career in sports broadcasting and later encouraged her to send in a demo reel and resume that secured her role of In-Game and Events Host for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Image courtesy of Nikki Jeffrey
“I was actually working the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at CBC when I got the call that I landed the job,” remarked Jeffrey. “I had to politely step out of the control room to take the call and internally scream with shock and excitement that they chose me! I have been with the Blue Jays ever since.”
Making history one game at a time
Throughout the four years of her undergraduate studies, Jeffrey had the opportunity to work as an in-game host for various minor league sports teams and leveraged her program connections to work for some of the biggest sports broadcasting networks including TSN, CBC and Sportsnet. These experiences allowed her to practice her craft as an on-air sports broadcaster, creating the foundational knowledge necessary to excel in her current role.
Thankfully, these hands-on experiences would later prepare Jeffrey for her moment in the spotlight when the Jays' usual long-term PA Announcer, Tim Langton, missed his first game in the last 15 years. “I always thought to myself that if I were ever sick, Tim can always fill in for my parts, but never thought if Tim got sick what would happen,” said Jeffrey. “Over the years, I have sat beside Tim and learned a lot from him. I actually felt very calm going into it because of this, even though there were over 42 thousand people there that day.”
Nikki Jeffrey, In-Game and Events Host, doing an in-game contest with a fan
Fostering gender equality in sports broadcasting
Jeffrey's desire is that this milestone will encourage other women to follow their dreams and reach for high-level positions on and off the camera in the sports broadcasting industry. She’s also hopeful that fans will become more accepting of women in leading roles such as this one. "I want it to not be 'different' for fans to hear a woman's voice announcing," exclaimed Jeffrey. "I feel very proud and grateful that I had the opportunity to do it."
Nikki Jeffrey PA announcing an MLB game, the fifth woman to ever do so
Throughout history, gender inequality in sports broadcasting has been an issue many women in the industry have faced. Although with each successive milestone showcasing the talent and passion of women on and off-screen such as Nikki Jeffrey, the path towards equality in sports broadcasting becomes that much more attainable. Every victory, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. “I think there has been a change in being more inclusive in several different ways, but we're not fully there yet, she said.”
Alongside Jeffrey’s milestone of being the fifth woman to take the lead as a PA announcer in MLB history, she also played a significant role in “The Takeover” during her time as an RTA Media Production student: the first-ever all-female led sports broadcast (external link, opens in new window) . Using the skills she gained throughout her academic and professional career, the all-female team broadcasted a Ram’s hockey game that later went on to win the TARA Trailblazer award.
About The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Comprised of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.
