The student organization Radio-Television Digital News Association will be hosting a “Women in Media” panel discussion today from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Le Bijou Theater.

Brittany Altom, broadcast journalism sophomore from Houma and RTDNA president, said that the panel will feature six prominent women working at local news media outlets. The discussion will be focused on how each panelist got to their current position in media, the high and low points of working there and the future of the industry.

“We will also ask the panelists about the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman in media along with some other questions to get the discussion going,” Altom said.

Confirmed panelists include Dee Dee Thurston, managing editor of The Houma Courier, Naomi King, government reporter for The Houma Courier, Kay Gervais, assistant news editor for The Baton Rouge Advocate, Ellen Ponson, business manager of Sunburst Media and host of KXOR-FM, Karen Swensen, anchor for WWL-TV, and Jolene Reilly, assistant news director for WAFB-TV.

Brittany Hebert, broadcast journalism senior from Houma and RTDNA vice president, will moderate the event.

“I’ll be introducing the panelists and asking some questions to get the discussion going,” Hebert said. “Then we will open the floor for the audience to ask any questions they may have.”

Andrew Simoncelli, assistant professor of mass communication, is the organization’s advisor.

He said that the RTDNA members began planning for the panel discussion at the beginning of the semester.

“We think it is a nice event to have on campus because it is a good way to get a bunch of media personnel together at one time,” Simoncelli said. “We decided to do it in March because it is Women’s History Month.”

He said that the event was successful in 2009, so organization members decided to revive the idea.

All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.