Three Things I learned from Michelle Wright’s "Women in Broadcasting" Seminar

1.     Statistics show that the public wants to hear disasters and tragedies reported by a female. This is because a woman is perceived as more caring and sympathetic when delivering bad news due to her higher pitched voice and the representation of a motherly figure. A male’s voice is harsher and pushier so women are often assigned to report the bad news. Wright says reporting bad news can be emotionally trying. She claims it is easy to let yourself focus on the two bad things you reported even if you reported 28 good things before the bad news. Wright suggests focusing on the good news you report rather than getting hung up on the bad news.

2.     You never know how something you say could affect someone's life. Wright often gets emails or calls weeks after doing a story where people tell her how something seemingly insignificant that she said or did had great impact in their lives. This is an aspect of reporting that I personally had never previously considered. In my life, I want to directly help others and now I see that sharing people’s stories with the public can go a long way in helping someone.

3.     Lastly I learned that “women don’t ask”. Wright shared the story of a psychological study done by a professor. The professor put an ad out that read "Come play bingo to win $5-8 per hour." Men and women showed up to play bingo. At the end of the night, everyone was handed $5 as they left the event. The women graciously accepted the money and left. The men, on the other hand, protested and asked how they could get the $8. Women don’t ask. This study was sparked when some girls at the college came to the professor complaining that the men had gotten all the jobs. The professor asked the person hiring why he hadn't given a job to a single girl. The man said that a single girl had not applied. Women don’t ask. Wright says that in the broadcasting industry, women cannot sit around and wait for things to fall into their laps. You must be pushy, asking for the good interviews, asking for the hard stories. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Thank you Michelle Wright for taking the time to visit Liberty University and share your expertise with us!