Georgia White



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Balancing Opportunity: The Impact of NIL on Female Athletes and Collegiate Sports

Georgia White, Sarah Park, Kyiah Johnston

Bloomington, Ind (November 5, 2024)—3 years ago, partnering with local businesses like Bloomington Bagel Company would have seemed beyond reach for Indiana University swimmer Anna Peplowski. Now, thanks to NIL, she’s doing just that.

Women’s sports have struggled with media attention and financial opportunities compared to their male counterparts, but NIL might bridge these gender inequality gaps.

In 2021, the NCAA included college students in NIL, or Name, Image, and Likeness, allowing college athletes to earn money from endorsements, sponsorships and personal branding. It has transformed college sports, giving athletes financial opportunities while still in school. This is changing how they navigate their athletic and academic careers.

“As an 18-year-old adult, you have the right to control the use of your name, image, and likeness, and to profit from them in any form of media, advertising, or business.” Galen Clavio, Director of the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University, states.

clavio
Clavio speaks about NIL in a college lecture. NIL has changed the trajectory of college athletes, making it an important and controversial topic.
Taken by Emma Pearce, student at Indiana University

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Germantown Hills, Illinois, Anna Peplowski is on track to an impressive swimming career. Her best events at IU are her 500-meter freestyle and 200- meter backstroke. She was one of 25 Indiana representatives to attend the 2021 Olympic trials and then went on to compete in the 2025 Paris Olympics to win the silver medal in the 800-free relay. With these accomplishments, Peplowski is using NIL opportunities to promote her brand and strengthen her image. Before scrolling down on her Instagram page to see pictures of her smiling with friends and highlights of her swimming events, the first thing that catches the eye is the link in her bio. This link is to her NIL store, where she collaborates with IU to sell her custom-designed IU gear.

Peplowski competes in one of her best events, pushing through the water with strength. Her past achievements reflect her resilience and ambition, making her a standout athlete. Taken by Indiana University’s swim and media team

 

Historically, women athletes have had to work harder to gain visibility. But in the digital age, social media aids in amplifying these athletes’ stories and talents, making it a crucial tool for women athletes to build personal brands and secure endorsements. For athletes like Peplowski, marketing herself through platforms like Instagram has proven to be a necessity in drawing attention to her accomplishments.

Female athletes are emerging as top earners in the NIL space. CNBC reports that women athletes capture a significant share of endorsement deals due to social media’s accessibility and reach. Athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have made headlines for their brand deals. NIL is elevating female athletes’ visibility in ways traditional media has never been able to. 

This increased visibility for women’s sports is changing public perception by normalizing the success of female athletes. Furthermore, NIL allows these athletes to financially sustain their careers while still in college. This is particularly important for women athletes who often face fewer professional opportunities post-college than their male counterparts.

https://youtu.be/blvbFRLBnb8?si=o7ZlTfwm1gY9aRTJ

Indiana University students share their thoughts on NIL and its impact on women’s sports.

Yet, challenges remain. While women athletes find success in social media, securing sponsorships is less likely due to lower engagement in their sports. Peplowski highlights that there are unique challenges in securing streaming and revenue opportunities in a sport that doesn’t receive much coverage. Sometimes, she has had to go out of her way to secure NIL instead of them coming to her first. In such cases, social media is crucial for women athletes in order to actively pursue NIL partnerships and maintain a presence in the public eye.

“Since NIL has started, so many opportunities have been presented since there wasn’t a lot of recognition in the past. Media attention is very beneficial,” Peplowski states. “People can see what I’m posting, especially locally. It brings more awareness to the company I’m working with.” 

Peplowski greets her audience as she prepares to compete in the 2025 Paris Olympics. With the rise of NIL, Anna Peplowski has gained new opportunities and influence worldwide. Taken by Indiana University’s swim and media team

The impact of NIL on women athletes goes beyond financial gains—it’s about representation and empowerment in sports. By providing female athletes the platforms to share their achievements and stories, NIL is paving the way for a more inclusive sports culture. As Peplowski continues training at Indiana University, she’s serving as a role model in the evolving world of college sports and inspiring the next generation of women athletes. As her heart is set on the next Olympics,  she will continue to leverage NIL to benefit her athletic career.

 

 

Public Relations Story

Tim Cook Introduces the New Personalized Apple Device

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tim Cook Introduces the New Personalized Apple Device

Media Contacts
Georgia White
Gracie Paul
Addie Parker

 

CUPERTINO, California – Today, CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, announced the release of the very first Apple watch. Cook showed a captivating video of the new watch and its close up features which immediately got the audience engaged with the product. 

Cook was dressed in business casual attire, and had a very poised ambience. He showed noticeable passion about the launching, and explained this new product in immense detail. He began by speaking specifically about the dial on the watch, the crown, and how it is the feature that is able to transfer movement into data. As he explained this feature, it was being illustrated for the audience on the screen.

Cook highlighted the fact that the watch is not solely for technology but also is about style and taste. He explained that it can be worn everyday and for all occasions. “We thought not only of the function, but of the way it looked,” Cook said. 

Lauren is using her Apple Watch to track her activity while studying at the IMU. She likes the fitness insight it provides.

 

 After emphasizing the design of the watch, Cook played a video for the audience that explained how the product is essentially simplifying an entire computer system to a single chip. The clip also went into detail about the watch’s four lenses, and emphasized the accuracy of the watch’s constant calculations. This informative video also indicated the ability for the watch to provide an explicit picture of one’s daily activity, as well as a variety of faces for the watch to choose from.

After the video, Cook introduced a special member of the team, Kevin Lynch, who led their software effort. Lynch provided the very first demo of the watch for the audience, by using a custom watch as it was being displayed on the screen. Lynch efficiently demonstrated how to use the watch by going through many of its different functions. Lynch was extremely knowledgable on each feature, presenting smoothly and with excitement about the new product. 

Mr. Cornwell is grading student’s essays before class in Ballantine Hall. He likes feeling connected while keeping his phone is away.

 

One of the features Lynch brought attention to was the ability to change specific aspects of the watch face, and he showed some different examples of faces to choose from. Lynch specifically talked about the “astronomy face” which was a cover with a picture of the earth. “It shows you where you are in the Earth,” Lynch said. He then demonstrated that by moving the face, the screen can also fly over to a view of the moon, which excited the audience. 

Lynch also went into depth regarding the convenience of viewing notifications on the watch. He explained how the notifications pop up when lifting up the watch, and it even offers prompt responses by  analyzing the text. 

The audience was then shown about how the watch has its own emoji options that are fully animated. This allows the user to fully express an emotion along with their reply. It also has quick functionality of Siri so that any question can efficiently be answered when needed. 

Lynch also demonstrated how the watch holds all of your photos, and displayed how easily you can view them by panning around the entire camera roll. He also showed the straightforward ability to move around the map screen when needing to obtain directions. There is also the option to search for directions to any location. Instead of needing to look down at the maps, the watch has a specific feeling for each different turn, so one can travel with no difficulty.

One of the last features Lynch talked about, is the digital touch feature. He showed how by simply clicking on someone in your friends list, they can be communicated with through call or text, or even directly notified by a tap from the watch.

Cook wrapped up his presentation by explaining how many different benefits the watch can be used for. He states how whether it’s for fitness, communication, health etc, the watch can be of assistance. He explained how there are an immense amount of features the new product has that he could continue to go in depth about. 

 “Apple watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created,” Cook said.

The brand new Apple device being shown through a promotional video at the launch of their new product

Kevin Lynch showcasing the features of the brand new Apple Watch such as changing the display screen

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