Jean Giambrone

Virginia "Jean" Giambrone (May 6, 1921 – January 21, 2013) was an American sports writer, who became the first woman to be awarded full press credentials at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. in Rochester, New York, Giambrone later graduated from the University of Rochester, where she majored in government. While a sophomore there in 1939, she went to the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper and complained to sports editor Elliot Cushing that female athletes were not being given proper coverage, saying that she was "tired of reading about men all the time."

Journalism highlights In 1966, she was banned from the media tent at the Masters Tournament, held at the then-men-only Augusta National. She told Associated Press writer Will Grimsley she was there to write for Gannett about the event, not "the dresses the players' wives were wearing." Grimsley and other writers spoke to tournament officials on her behalf. The following year, she was allowed full press access, the first female sports writer to have that privilege.