Her Story
About Mary
Mary Gaughan serves as a daily staff writer and reporter at Sports Business Journal, a national outlet covering sports business across the United States. She joined the organization about one year and seven months ago as her first job after college, following a fellowship program in summer 2024 that helped her connect with the team. Gaughan graduated from the University of South Carolina in December 2024 with a Bachelor in Communication and Journalism after three and a half years of study that also included sport and entertainment management. In her role, she contributes to daily editions through aggregation of news from sources like The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, and ESPN, while also pursuing original reporting through interviews with sports executives and stakeholders. Her coverage spans women's sports, the NFL, soccer, and general assignment topics, with a particular interest in developing a beat in women's sports. During college, Gaughan earned two first-place awards for an in-depth investigative article on the over-prescription of antipsychotics in nursing homes: one from the South Carolina Press Association in the Collegiate Over 10,000 News category and a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists in the in-depth large reporting category for Region 3. She credits her success to her personal drive to accomplish her goals, a commitment to continuous improvement and asking questions, and the guidance of mentors including her parents and college professors who helped foster her passion for journalism.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary
01What do you attribute your success to?
My drive and the desire to be successful and accomplish all the things that I dream of accomplishing drives me every single day. Always finding ways to get better, step up, experience new things and ask questions has been important. Mentors have been so important, especially my mom and dad who have given me so much advice and support.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Not being nervous to reach out and shoot your shot and go to others with questions and for help. Early on I was nervous about being a burden but all of my accomplishments have come from breaking out of my shell and asking questions.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Even though there is a lot of men around you, don't let the fact that you're a woman make you feel like you're any less deserving or capable. Trust in yourself, trust in your abilities, and don't be nervous to step out of your comfort zone and really go after what you want.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Finding the confidence in myself when thrown into a distinguished organization. Figuring out where I go next and how to develop into the reporter I want to be. Reporting in the sports industry is hard with many tenured employees.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, kindness, and hard work ethic are the most valuable. Creating an environment that is collaborative and helps foster growth. Inclusivity is extremely important. Collaboration, working with peers, and mentorship.
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