“My motorized Nikon camera ….
“My motorized Nikon camera could shoot nine pictures in four seconds. I used a 36 frame roll of film of the same handshake.
“Hooting and hollering began, and someone said, ‘What’s that gal doing in here?’ The Angels’ PR man came over and asked me if I got my assignment and asked me to follow him, not looking left or right, up to the media lounge for a drink. He said I was a pro. I was the first female in the locker room, and he had no qualms about the situation.”
“All bleep bleep broke loose. The next day, there was an LA Times Sports column. Hate mail from male chauvinists came in. But my editor said, ‘Good girl. This is the most publicity our newspaper has received.’ “The LA Times sent a reporter out to interview me and, long story short, when she asked why I did what I did, I said, ‘I wasn’t there to play peek a boo, I was on assignment, the same as the men photographers! And, after all, I know what the male anatomy looks like, I raised two sons.’ A nice photo and a fourinch column story appeared in the LA Times of me in the most professional way.
“Soon after, I received an 8xl0 glossy black and white photo of Nolan Ryan and Gene Autry with their autographs. Ryan signed ‘Peek a boo, Joanna.’ Autry signed ‘All my best.’” “At the next home game, during the 7th inning stretch, up in the media box, I was awarded a first female in the locker room certificate plus a fancy black satin eye shade with lots of applause from my fellow shooters.” Matos was also one of the first women photojournalists to cover USC football. At the USC vs. Notre Dame football game, quarterback Pat Hayden couldn’t find a receiver and ran off the sidelines. He missed the male photographers but broadsided Matos. Hayden helped her up and apologized. The coliseum announcer publicly voiced his opinion saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, that’s why women should not be allowed on the field.”
He could not have been more wrong.
Later in her career, Matos joined the PPAGLA and quickly rose to become the organization’s first female president in 1979. Mayor Tom Bradley attended her installation dinner, and she was interviewed by newscaster Johnny Grant of KTLA and UPI’s Ernie Sch work about what it was like to be at the helm of an all men’s organization.
Matos later went to work as the media photojournalist for Knott’s Berry Farm and retired in 1990.
She brings an infectious enthusiasm to everything she does for the PPAGLA and her passion for the group continues. She was a key factor for the success of the Past Presidents and Retired Members Scholarship Fund, which she helped initiate over 30 years ago. When Matos was asking for contributions for the scholarship fund, members just couldn’t say no.
Through her humble and professional demeanor, Matos paved the way for future female photojournalists. “Joanna has been an inspiration to me and the other women in our group. There are still very few of us, but Joanna paved the way and helped make it possible. Giving her the Lifetime Achievement Award was the highlight of my presidency,” said outgoing PPAGLA President Amy Gaskin.
“She is a shining example of class, determination, kindness, and professionalism and she embodies the spirit of this award.”
— Amy Gaskin, outgoing president of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles
