From collegiate sidelines in Bloomington, Ind., to high-profile national broadcasts and international sidelines in Paris, media personality Bailey Jackson’s rise through the sports media ecosystem serves as a blueprint for modern sports journalism.
Jackson, an Indiana University alumna, has steadily built an impactful multi-platform presence. Her trajectory — spanning early work with the Big Ten Network and local coverage for the Indianapolis Recorder to launching her independent show “Off the Record: The Sports Show” and joining popular sports podcasts — highlights both the evolution of digital sports media and the vital role of female voices in an industry historically dominated by men.
Her foundational years were defined by consistency and digital brand-building. During her time at Indiana University, she gained initial broadcast experience working with the Big Ten Network and assisting with All-Star events in Indianapolis. She later expanded her portfolio by reporting for the Recorder, establishing a local presence before turning her focus toward scaling her personal brand, Bailey Jackson Sports.
“That was laying the foundation — putting out videos day after day, multiple times a day,” Jackson said. “Social media is great, but I really wanted to get into more traditional media and long-form content.”
That drive led to the creation of “Off the Record” in mid-2025. The show’s inaugural 35-week season covered a broad spectrum of athletics and quickly gained momentum. Its second season focuses specifically on football before transitioning into a basketball-centric third season. Jackson aims to use the platform as a launchpad for major national opportunities.
Her work has taken her across the globe, including covering the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, collaborating with the NFL Players Association in Los Angeles to interview high-profile talent, subbing as a guest co-host on multiple podcasts and joining the weekly rotation as a football commentator on “520 in the Morning” alongside former NBA star Jeff Teague and his co-hosts.
Despite her rapid ascent, Jackson acknowledges that navigating the digital media landscape brings distinct challenges. Beyond the logistical demands of securing show sponsors, driving viewership, and managing a demanding travel schedule, learning to handle public scrutiny was a critical hurdle.
“Balancing my schedule was definitely the hardest thing,” Jackson said. “Also, just quieting the noise. Social media can be a scary place… developing thick skin has been the biggest thing that I’ve had to overcome or figure out how to navigate as I’ve gone through this journey.”
Jackson’s success comes at a pivotal time for women in sports media. While representation has expanded in front of the camera, significant gender disparities remain across sports journalism, production teams, agency representation and front-office executive suites.
For Jackson, bringing a female perspective to daily sports dialogue is essential — not just for balanced commentary, but to pave the way for the next generation.
“There’s still a huge gap there,” Jackson said. “In the media space, it’s definitely gotten better, but there’s still room for opportunity and room for growth. It’s important to have varying perspectives… having that female perspective and male perspective in conversations is so important.”
Jackson credits trailblazers like Maria Taylor, Joy Taylor, Taylor Rooks, and pioneering analyst Doris Burke for showing her what was possible on national television.
“Having that representation matters,” Jackson said. “That’s a big reason why I was so interested in getting into it, because I saw them show up on my TV and I was like, ‘That’s really cool.’ We definitely need more people showing up, and I think social media has helped with that a lot where people are creating their own paths.”
As she continues her national broadcast work, Jackson remains committed to multi-platform storytelling. In addition to her weekly appearances on “520 in the Morning” every Monday and new episodes of “Off the Record” dropping every Wednesday, she recently launched a Substack newsletter under Bailey Jackson Sports to reconnect with her print journalism roots.
Follow Bailey Jackson on all major social media platforms here.
Contact Staff Writer Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
Noral Parham is the multimedia and senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Before joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate at the MLK Center in Indianapolis and as a senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver. He is also a business owner.
