After nearly 50 years on the air as a political reporter, PBS NewsHour anchor and editor-in-chief Judy Woodruff plans to retire at the end of 2022. American politics is as much the literal face of women in journalism as it has been seen and felt for a generation. Woodruff spoke with The 19th about how she thinks about gender, politics, and journalism before accepting the Television News Lifetime Achievement Award at her News and Documentary Emmy Awards on Sept. 28. did.
Jennifer Garson: We are so close to the midterm elections and the 2024 presidential election will be here before we know it. What do you think the role of journalists is in this political moment? And how do you think gender affects our politics? And what do you think it means to cover politics now?
Judy Woodruff: I don’t think we’ve ever had a more important midterm election because it’s a very divided time politically in this country for many reasons. The Senate is evenly split, and the House — only a few seats can make a difference. There are many things that are out of balance. These midterm elections are huge and I don’t think I can pay enough attention as a journalist.
Dobbs decision [that ended a federal right to abortion] It really rocked these early summer races. It is motivating to see Democrats, especially women, run and vote, work for one candidate, and see them win and get engaged. If it weren’t for this summer’s Supreme Court ruling, I think you’d be looking at a very different political landscape right now.
The media, especially the political media, has not always been a welcoming environment for women, so what is the role of gender in journalism today and how do you think that role has evolved?
The role of women in this industry has changed significantly. When I started working as a reporter, there were very few female reporters covering politics in print or broadcast news. We were in the very minority. We wouldn’t say our thumbs were sore, but they were outstanding.
Early on, I was very conscious of the fact that I wanted to be taken seriously as a reporter. I was also conscious of the fact that news directors didn’t want to get involved in an area of news that frankly isn’t very serious: “women’s issues.”
Today, the definition of “women’s issue” varies greatly. Women in the workplace, those who need help with parenting, and those who are working out of the home or not working on school and education issues for their children. The economy, education, the environment, and the impact these issues have on women. These include issues such as abortion, equal opportunity at work, fair wages, opportunities for career advancement and the opportunity to receive the pay you deserve. Today, many more issues fall under this “women’s issue” heading. And today, women’s issues are everyone’s issues, and journalists are much more accustomed to covering it all.
There are now a large number of female journalists joining the ranks of political reporters in print, television, radio and online. Today’s female journalists embrace and welcome the opportunity to cover issues that affect women.
What do you think caused that change? Looking back and looking at the current situation, what led to this sea change?
I think we were just reaching critical mass. I would never say there are enough women in politics. We always need more women as news editors in print, broadcast and all areas. Management needs more women explaining what is covered and how it is covered. But when there were enough women in the field and they reached a comfortable level, a change occurred.
Frankly, I think it also stems from the fact that women work as laborers and play a role in the economic well-being of families, the economic well-being of families.Only women have the labor force. Instead, women who stay home to support their families are still concerned about many of the issues around them, especially education and health care.
It simply recognized that without women’s voices, without acknowledging the active role that women play in society, these problems cannot be solved. There will never be a day when I can point my finger and say, “Oh, things have changed since then.” But a large part of the reason women today feel more comfortable addressing these issues and speaking out more aggressively is because they worry about being seen as talking about so-called “women’s issues.” Because there is no .
I remember calling 1992 “the year of the woman.” Because so many women ran for public office, and many of them won. But even then there were setbacks. We’ve gone up and down in terms of how many women are elected to office. There is Now it feels like there are women everywhere you look in politics, let alone political journalism.
When you see what issues really feel like in this year’s poll, how this moment feels in terms of understanding the way gender affects the way our societies work and work. how would you describe
Women voters are very likely to be the deciding factor in many of these midterm elections. But at this point in the polls, there is a clear disconnect between what men say is their biggest problem and what women say is their biggest problem, and we want to continue to monitor it. Again, with the Supreme Court’s decision to essentially overturn Roe v. Wade based on Dobbs’ decision, returning the abortion issue to the states is now a major factor. I think it is.
I also think that education has become a much bigger issue due to the pandemic and what it means for families and women. This is already seen in the way women participate in school board election campaigns and organize ballot issues related to the topic of education. I do not believe that education is a one-sided issue. However, this is an example of women raising their hands and getting involved in an issue that has never been seen before, and we journalists need to pay close attention to this.
You have built a great career and are a mother. How do you think having an identity other than yours as a journalist affects your work?
I salute moms who can juggle parenting and journalism. That’s hard. It’s just hard. I have 3 children of her, all grown up now. But with or without help, you are still a mother. You are a parent, an unbreakable bond, an unbreakable commitment, a 24/7 responsibility. It took me a long time to realize this.
I can have a career! I have all this energy! I can raise a child too!” not at the same time. It is literally impossible to give 100% to your work and 100% to your family and children. Sometimes there are trade-offs. There are school events that I missed and stories that I tell others. do i want it to be different? absolutely.
I celebrate the fact that more and more fathers are openly embracing the role of parent. I am more open about having to go home early. Maybe their employer supports it, offering them time off after the baby is born or to care for an elderly parent who needs help.
Mama needs to be comfortable When Dad please take the time you need. Our employment situation in this country is much tougher for mothers than for fathers, and as long as that is the case, women have a special responsibility. So my view is always to encourage women to make their own decisions about what they want to do, knowing there are always trade-offs. These aren’t always fair, but they are true. If you want a family, it’s a big responsibility and one of the great joys in life. And if you want to be a great reporter, that’s another great joy in life!
Twenty-five years ago, my husband was Washington bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, and he was able to arrange for two female reporters who worked there to keep their jobs. She offered to work three days a week and had a child. He really wanted them to have the opportunity to become mothers, have families, and continue working after giving birth – and it was incredibly successful. I have. As a country and as employers of mothers and fathers, we need to do more to help make it all possible.
What advice would you give both beginning and established journalists today in terms of what is the most important thing to keep in mind now when considering the future of journalism? mosquito?
If you’re smart, curious, interested in what’s happening in the world, in your country, in your state, in your community, and want to be part of reporting it, we need you. It is said that
Curiosity means always wanting to know more. For me, understanding the facts surrounding any story is absolutely essential. There are so many opinions in American journalism right now. We’ve seen it broadly overtake journalism. But I’m behind the times. As a journalist or reporter, the first thing you should worry about is reporting the news. Facts must be hidden. As a journalist, you need to get as much information as possible. It is the best foundation you can lay for your future. Learn the importance of facts and information so you can care about opinions later.
What we need is to do the hard work of unearthing facts and information and sharing it with everyone in a way that people find engaging to read, watch and listen to. It’s the most worthwhile thing I think you can do.
First published on September 21, 2022 by The 19th.
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