While blogging might not be considered a form of journalism, I certainly think it should be. We evaluate important, relevant materials and send it out to inform the world just like news reporters do. The question, then, is how do we get other’s to take us seriously, not only as writers, but as news reporters too? In my quest for the answer, I began researching journalists around the nation and found that several qualities made them stand out, giving them the respect and recognition they deserve. As I began my search, I started with the obvious choices: Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Vargas, etc. and all of the big names had something in common… at one point in time, they started with nothing and worked their way to the top. Not entirely satisfied with what I found, I began to search award winning female news anchors in the most populated cities (New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Detroit) and five remarkable women popped up: Pat Harper of WNBS, Laura Diaz of Fox11, Clarice Tinsley of FDFW, Jennifer Valoppi of WTVJ, and Robbie Timmons of WXYZ. These women, all recognized as outstanding journalists, had five things in common that set them apart from the rest.
- Self-Starter
None of these women approached their careers looking for handouts. They knew that if they wanted something, they were going to have to work for it. And boy did they ever! Not only do they have successful careers as news anchors, but they have set up foundations, act as producers, and create programs to benefit the people in their communities.
2. College and Education
Each of these women went to a college known for their journalism programs and participated in additional programs to help get them the credentials they needed to make an impression.
3. Dedication to the Network
When you look at their credentials, each news anchor has been with their station for a notable period of time. Beyond that, they each have invested in improving the network and bringing something different to it to make it stand out. They are well loved by their fans and make a point to connect with them in a way that other anchors fail to.
4. Philanthropic Work
While these women are hard at fine tuning their craft, they also make time to invest in valuable causes around the world and within their community. While these causes are things they all strongly believed in
5. Perseverance in the Face of a Challenge
Whether they faced adversity, discrimination, economic downturn, or just plain rejection, these women were not deterred. If we can learn anything from them (journalism or not), it is to never give up on your dream.
If you look at the bio of each of these amazing women you will find not only a remarkable story of triumph and success, but countless awards honoring them for their outstanding work in the field. These women are some of those who paved the way for female reporters and setting standards for news anchors across the country. It just goes to show that a little hard work and ingenuity can go a long way.
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