I have spent a lot of time thinking, reading, and writing about what football clubs are actually doing (and not doing) around menstruation, and around endometriosis. The thing that stuck with me most wasn’t a stat, though.
Beth McCowen
@bethmccowen.bsky.social
Freelance Journalist | Editorial & Production Lead at The Halfway Line
I’m currently in the process of launching Body of Evidence, a website where I’ll cover all things endometriosis and adenomyosis as a journalist with lived experience. I’d be so grateful if any of you would be interested in following along with this journey! You can expect articles,
I’m launching a website that covers endometriosis through media, research, and lived experience. The first article is about my own journey. It feels incredibly vulnerable to share this, but it seems like the best place to start. body-of-evidence.com/2026/07/01/a...
A brief history of endometriosis and me - Body of Evidence
My long journey through endometriosis, adenomyosis, misdiagnosis and chronic illness — and why women's health deserves better
body-of-evidence.com
New! From @bethmccowen.bsky.social, @equalaccesspublicmedia.org will become the Organization for Accessible Journalism to better communicate its mission. Edited by @evanurquhart.bsky.social. the-word.news/2026/0604/eq...
Equal Access Public Media to rebrand as Organization for Accessible Journalism - The Word
National nonprofit says clearer name will better communicate a focus on accessibility in journalism
the-word.news
Beth is doing great work for @the-word.news by @equalaccesspublicmedia.org. I'm so grateful to have reporters like Beth on our team.
Beth McCowen@bethmccowen.bsky.social · 3mo agoReally appreciated the opportunity to write for @equalaccesspublicmedia.org about endometriosis awareness and why accessibility needs to be part of the conversation — not an afterthought. Thank you @roossch91.bsky.social for speaking to me about your experience 💛 the-word.news/2026/0507/wh...
Evening folks! The Word is all new today. Catch up with articles from @bethmccowen.bsky.social, @thewritestuff0.bsky.social, @akinyelemichael.bsky.social, and more in the only magazine that covers the intersection of journalism and accessibility. the-word.news
Home - The Word
May 2026: Adaptive tech opens journalism to more people and college radio as an on-ramp to aspiring disabled reporters; awareness journalism isn't always accessible; part 1 of "The quiet struggles"; a...
the-word.news
Really appreciated the opportunity to write for @equalaccesspublicmedia.org about endometriosis awareness and why accessibility needs to be part of the conversation — not an afterthought. Thank you @roossch91.bsky.social for speaking to me about your experience 💛 the-word.news/2026/0507/wh...
When awareness isn’t accessible - The Word
Endometriosis coverage fails to reach those who most need it
the-word.news
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖! Listen as the team debriefs a huge week of football in Europe. 📉 Man City stumble in WSL title race 🌟 All to play for in UWCL semi-final second legs On Spotify and Apple Podcasts now.
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 Listen as the team preview the semi-finals of the UWCL! 🌟 England and Ireland's double wins 🏆 Europa Cup final preview with @libertysimons.bsky.social On Spotify and Apple Podcasts now.
Looking to speak to people with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis for a story looking at how media coverage of these diseases can help or hinder access to understanding, diagnosis, and care. #JournoRequest @the-word.news
𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝: 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 Ireland face Poland in Gdańsk tonight before the return tie in Dublin. The Halfway Line has everything you need to know pre match. #COYGIG thehalfwayline.com/2026/04/14/i...
Ireland vs Poland: World Cup qualifying double header preview - The Halfway Line
This week Ireland and Poland will face each other home and away in crucial FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying matches.
thehalfwayline.com
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡? 🇧🇷 An international break packed with drama awaits with a huge amount on the line this month alone, read more below: #WWC27 thehalfwayline.com/2026/04/10/w...
Who can qualify for the Women's World Cup in Brazil this month? - The Halfway Line
The FIFA Women's World Cup is closer than you think and The Halfway Line is here to take a look at who could book their spot this month.
thehalfwayline.com
Did you check out the April edition of The Word yet? Good news! It's fresh all month! Check out the cover story by @bethmccowen.bsky.social on the inspiration porn in Paralympic coverage and a deep dive into how student media will be affected by Title II by @thewritestuff0.bsky.social.
Home - The Word
April 2026: One-on-one with sports reporter Laura Howard on the ableism that still occurs when covering the Paralympics; an analysis of how the looming Title II rule might affect student news outlets;...
the-word.news
'𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭' Former Arsenal goalkeeper Maddison Millington-Stanbury opens up about her autism diagnosis in this meaningful exclusive interview with @roossch91.bsky.social 💭 thehalfwayline.com/2026/04/09/i...
thehalfwayline.com
An important interview with @laurahoward.bsky.social on covering the Winter Paralympics, pushing back against inspiration porn, and ableism. Proud to have written the cover story for The Word’s April edition ☺️ the-word.news/2026/0402/pa...
Journalist: Paralympic news still focuses on disability over sports - The Word
Sports reporter Laura Howard describes pushing back on the use of inspiration porn and centering disability over sports at the 2026 Paralympics
the-word.news
April's cover story from @bethmccowen.bsky.social: a one-on-one with @laurahoward.bsky.social about covering the Paralympics, ableism, and inspiration porn. the-word.news/2026/0402/pa...
Journalist: Paralympic news still focuses on disability over sports - The Word
Sports reporter Laura Howard describes pushing back on the use of inspiration porn and centering disability over sports at the 2026 Paralympics
the-word.news
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 Join @jamiespangher.bsky.social, @bethmccowen.bsky.social, and special guest @kieranyap.bsky.social to preview Saturday's huge AFC Women's Asian Cup final between host nation Australia and two-time champions Japan. 🎧🍏 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. #Matildas #WAC2026
𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 The Matildas prepare for a challenging Asian Cup quarter-final, England and the Republic of Ireland begin their World Cup qualification charges, and the new NWSL and League of Ireland seasons loom. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts 🎧🍏
𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 '𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡' 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 '𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫' 🗣️The Bohemians number 10 talked all things her goalscoring inspiration, her injury comeback and solidarity with Palestine. #COYGIG thehalfwayline.com/2026/03/12/k...
Katie Malone will 'cherish' memories of Palestine match 'forever' - The Halfway Line
Katie Malone spoke to The Halfway Line about her goalscoring inspiration, making her injury comeback and solidarity with Palestine.
thehalfwayline.com
And @bethmccowen.bsky.social looked at a place offering help for journalists experiencing trauma from the work they do.
The Word@the-word.news · 5mo agoNew today: Re-framing mental health in journalism the-word.news/2026/0305/tr...
The Media Resilience Network offers confidential trauma resources to journalists. Their work is needed now more than ever. the-word.news/2026/0305/tr...
Ahead of next month’s Winter Paralympics, I’m working on an article about the way the media treats the Paralympic games - language, images, disability, ableism, disability porn... all of it. Seeking sources to interview. If you or anyone you know could help, please reach out 📩
Huge thanks to Lewes FC’s Zoe Smith for sitting down with me to talk about endometriosis and football. Really pleased to have our interview published in Her Goal Magazine🎗️⚽️
Anyone shocked by the amount of not just #tennis players but also spectators suffering at the #AustralianOpen should read @bethmccowen.bsky.social's excellent feature for @newwomenssportmag.bsky.social on Climate Change and Women's Sport. thenewwomenssportmagazine.com/playing-thro...
Playing Through the Heat: Climate Change and Women’s Sport - The New Women's Sport Magazine
We cannot ignore our changing climate any longer. In an urgent and must-read feature, journalist Beth McCowen puts women’s sport, climate change and equity under the microscope.
thenewwomenssportmagazine.com
Looking for reporters who have covered traumatic stories (hurricanes, mass shootings, crime, etc.) that left an imprint and want to talk about it on the record for a story on journalism and trauma/anxiety. Please DM me if this sounds like you!
𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐂 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐖𝐂𝐋 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬 The Gunners ran out 1-0 winners over the Dutch side in a dominant Champions League display, but fans were still left wanting more 👇 #UWCL #AWFC thehalfwayline.com/2025/12/09/a...
Arsenal edge past FC Twente to close in on UWCL knockouts - The Halfway Line
Arsenal ran out 1-0 winners over FC Twente in a dominant Champions League display, but fans were still left wanting more.
thehalfwayline.com
New! Reporter @bethmccowen.bsky.social attended the AI Town Hall to bring you more on the @newsguild.org "News Not Slop" week of action. the-word.news/2025/1205/ne...
NewsGuild launches campaign to challenge AI-driven content
Unionized journalists across the United States launched a new initiative aimed at confronting the rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence in newsrooms.
the-word.news
The NewsGuild of New York@nyguild.bsky.social · 8mo agoAlong with our actions today, @newsguild.org is hosting a town hall tonight. It's not too late to sign up! us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Wrote something a little different for @thehalfwayline.bsky.social this week! As I tried to answer the question: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟒𝟖 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬? Projected outcomes came with no shortage of drama... thehalfwayline.com/2025/12/03/w...
What would a FIFA Women’s World Cup look like with 48 teams? - The Halfway Line
What if the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil had matched the expanded format that the men's World Cup in 2026 has utilised?
thehalfwayline.com
New! @bethmccowen.bsky.social talks to the people behind the new data vis tool, the Trans News Initiative, by the @transjournalists.org. the-word.news/2025/1128/tr...
New tool tracks how media covers trans communities
The Trans News Initiative quantifies and categorizes coverage with data
the-word.news