The “Women Working in Mass Media Panel” was held Wednesday in Le Bijou Theater where eight prominent women working at local news media outlets shared their experiences. The discussion, sponsored by the Nicholls chapter of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, focused on how each panelist got to their current position in media, the high and low points of working there and the future of their industry.
Keitha Nelson, a reporter at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, said perseverance is the most important quality someone needs to get a job in mass media.
“If there’s something you really want, fight for it,” Nelson said. “If you believe you can make it, go for it. It’s really that simple.”
Laura Buchtel, weekday meteorologist at WWL-TV Channel 4 in New Orleans, said staying connected with people in the industry is the best way to learn about job openings. Buchtel was asked to join the Eyewitness Morning News team as a weekday meteorologist after filling in for the regular meteorologist whom she had a professional connection with.
Mandy Hay, a graphic designer at the Baton Rouge Advocate, said the most rewarding thing about working in the media is making a difference in people’s lives.
As an example, Hay spoke about an anonymous $10,000 donation that was made to a non-profit nursing home after a news story was printed on how the home failed to meet its fundraising budget.
The panel agreed finding balance between their work and social lives is one of the more difficult parts of their job. DeeDee Thurston, managing editor at the Daily Comet, said she had to go two weeks without seeing her husband and children following Hurricane Gustav because of her responsibilities at the Comet.
“Mixing this life with family can be difficult,” Thurston said.
Kay Gervais, assistant news editor at the Baton Rouge Advocate, said managing the personalities that can emerge in the newsroom is one of her most difficult challenges.
“It takes skills and maneuvering that aren’t taught in class: people skills,” Gervais said.
The panel was asked to give their opinion of the proverbial glass ceiling – discrimination preventing qualified employees from advancing in the work place – facing women working in mass media.
Many of the panelists said they do not believe there is such a ceiling, but agreed that there is discrimination against women as well as younger journalists working in media.
Naomi King, a staff writer at the Houma Courier, said many people she interviews treat her differently at first because she is a young woman covering politics.
“It’s a little hard, but I just roll through it and hit hard with my questions,” King said.
Lucy Bustamante, a news anchor at WWL-TV, said aspiring journalists should not make discrimination their excuse for not succeeding.
“Don’t make sexism the reason you stay where you are,” Bustamante said. “It’s no excuse to not succeed at your ultimate goal.”
The panel was optimistic about the future of their careers despite speculation that print journalism is becoming more difficult to profit from.
“Journalism is always going to exist, but newspapers may not,” Gervais said.
“There’s always going to be people to tell the who, what, why, when, where and how to,” Thurston said.
