It’s nearing sundown at Sydney’s Observatory Hill when the TV WEEK Close Up team calls a wrap on our exclusive photo shoot with Lou Ransome.
Ahead of us, the sun glistens on the water of Sydney Harbour, and as we make our way to a nearby bench, Lou’s Golden Retriever, Ralf, trots along at our feet.
It’s a peaceful end to a busy day and perhaps a metaphor for Lou’s current state of mind. The 31-year-old is in a happy place – despite being busier than ever.
For the team, the bustling shoot has been a normal day on the job. But for the resilient sports reporter, it comes off the back of a lengthy shift at the FOX Sports News desk. Not that she’s complaining. In fact, she’s used to it.
As Lou shrugs off the remnants of a hard day’s work and slips into a casual black hoodie, she insists it’s all part of the job.
“Being on television is certainly not all glamorous; there are some long hours!” she says with a laugh.
“But whether it’s a 4am start or midnight finish, if you love it, you’ll enjoy it regardless.”
Lou’s career is on the up.
While her schedule can be gruelling, it’s enabled the journalist to shape her success. After travelling the world as a freelance journalist and sideline reporter to cover everything from lawn bowls to athletics, golf and soccer, Lou found a home at FOX Sports News in 2012.
(At the time of writing, Lou announced she was leaving the FOX Sports News channel, but will remain a presenter on FOX Sports.)
Since then, the Brisbane-born presenter has been in the thick of the action, proof of which came in March this year when Lou found herself reporting live on the cheating scandal involving our national cricket team on tour in South Africa.
The ball-tampering incident, involving high-profile stars such as captain Steve Smith and David Warner, is widely considered one of the darkest days in Australian sport. For Lou, the event was a pivotal moment in her career.
“When the players returned home from South Africa [after the scandal broke], we were on air for eight hours straight,” she begins.
“It was one of the best days of my career. It was exciting and a lot happened during our rolling coverage. That’s when you want to be on air.”
An avid sports fan, Lou was as stunned as anyone. As she delivered the breaking news, each revelation more astonishing than the last, it was soon apparent this was no ordinary sports report.
“It was such a sensitive topic and what it meant for Australian sport worldwide,” she says.
“We were being labelled cheats, but we have to remember that these sports stars are people too. Kids look up to them, so you have to bring some compassion. For me, it was important to keep that attitude. You don’t want to be grandstanding.”
“There’s a responsibility to be factually correct, as well as have empathy about what’s happening.”
Lou says her dog, Ralf, is her “practice child”.
It’s this balanced and determined way of thinking that has led Lou to break moulds across the industry. Last year, she made history as the first female reporter – alongside FOX Sports News presenter Natalie Yoannidis – to be involved in the Super Rugby broadcasts.
In August, Lou helmed an all-female pre-game panel before the Wallaroos’ – the women’s national team – rugby Test match against New Zealand.
It was a ground breaking moment to celebrate, and one Lou was thrilled to be part of. But she also believes it’s time to be seen simply as a sports presenter, rather than a female sports journalist in a male-dominated industry.
It’s been a long-standing narrative for women in her field, but Lou is ready to shift the conversation and make a difference.
“It’s important to have no tokenism associated with it,” she says.
“Especially for women who are hoping to get into sports journalism; you still need to know your stuff and be passionate about what you’re doing. I’ve never felt unwanted. I’ve been challenged, but I’ve never felt out of my depth. I turn up and do my job, and you’re at that desk because you’re good at it.”
Lou’s been inspired to take the road less travelled since high school. Helping her along the way were some trailblazers, whom she now calls friends.
“My first memory of wanting to do this job was watching [TV presenters] Kylie Gillies and Joh Griggs during an Australian Open tennis coverage,” she says.
“Then, at the end of school, I watched Jess Yates and Mel McLaughlin on TV, who are now colleagues and friends. It’s a rewarding feeling.”
Working on the FOX Sports Super Saturday desk.
When Lou isn’t reporting on sport, she’s watching it at home with her partner and fellow journalist, Richard Bayliss. With both of them in the same industry, however, Lou admits it can be hard to find quality time together.
“It’s pretty nuts, to be blunt,” she says of their colliding schedules.
“We try to work in date nights around sporting events. On the weekends, we cook breakfast at home and Ralf gets in on that too. We have scrambled eggs on Sundays.”
They do, however, manage to squeeze in the odd game of rugby league, watching their beloved Brisbane Broncos on TV. Sadly for the couple, their team was eliminated during the recent NRL finals series.
“Sport is all that’s on in our home,” she says with a laugh. “But I do tell Rich how lucky he is that I’m happy to have it on.”
At this stage, there seems to be little holding them back. But we have to wonder: will it all change when they start a family?
At this point, coincidentally, Lou becomes distracted by her loveable dog, who has managed to dig up the grass and roll in the dirt. No longer is Ralf a gorgeous shade of gold, but a muddy shade of brown – further proof the couple have their hands full.
“Ralf is our practice child,” Lou says, laughing, as she attempts to wipe off the mud.
“Starting a family and getting married is something Rich and I will talk about more. But at the moment, we’re really happy with what we’re doing.”
It’s easy to see why Lou is happy. From covering Super Rugby and the US Open – where she met tennis heroes Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Lou is blazing a trail of her own.
“I’ve interviewed some of the greatest sport stars, which is a huge highlight,” she enthuses.
“To chat with them over a glass of champagne – those are the real pinch-me moments, because I’m in awe of these people.”
“After seven years, I still get challenged, which is great because you work long hours and make sacrifices to do what you love. At the end of the day, it’s a dynamic industry, so you have to grab the opportunities or someone else will. There are a lot of great things on the horizon and I’ll happily take them as they come.”
To read more interviews with your favourite TV personalities, pick up a copy of this month’s issue of TV WEEK Close Up. On sale now!
