CNN broadcaster offers advice to women journalists
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Carol Costello of CNN watches students direct The Rockbridge Report broadcast from the control room in Reid Hall. W&L photo by Pat Hinely '73. |
Women in the news industry need to support one another in order to eliminate the obstacles holding women back, CNN contributor Carol Costello said in a provocative address Mar. 12.
“Women are at a time in history when true equality is in our grasp,” Costello said. “If we as women support and loudly defend one another, just think of the power we would yield.”
Costello gave her talk, “Women in TV News,” at Washington and Lee University’s Stackhouse Theatre on Mar. 12.
The CNN “American Morning” contributor used anecdotes and examples from newspaper clippings to outline three conundrums women face in today’s society: image, getting on or off the “mommy track,” and competition.
“Our business reflects our culture, and our culture seems to be saying ‘Sex is power,’ even in 2009,” Costello said. “Is that giving in to sexism?”
Costello repeated that question throughout her address. She had some advice for aspiring female journalists as well.
“Be really smart, read all that you can, know everything that you can possibly know,” she said.
“You need to know how to write,” she continued. “The Internet doesn’t care what you look like.”
Costello earned a degree in journalism from Kent State University in Ohio. She began a career in journalism as a weekend anchor for WAKR-TV in Akron, Ohio and WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio. She then moved to Baltimore to serve as anchor and co-anchor for WBAL-TV.
Costello joined CNN in 2001 after serving as an anchor and investigative reporter for Washington’s WJLA-TV for five years.
She won an Emmy in 1991 and was nominated again in 1993. In 2004, Costello ran the Olympic torch through the streets of Atlanta prior to the Summer Games in Athens.
Costello’s visit was funded by the Office of the Dean of the College and the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications.-- Catherine Carlock ’10