Women Who Paved the Way in Media

In honor of March being Women’s History Month, it’s only right that we acknowledge some of the women in media and communications who have paved the way. These women have been trailblazers in the industry, setting records, selling out shows, winning awards and really paving the way for the women to come in the future. From careers in print, TV and public relations, it’s safe to say these women have impacted the media and communications industry in countless ways.

• Oprah Winfrey

Believe it or not, Oprah Winfrey had to jump through some hurdles before she could start gifting audiences with hundreds of brand new cars. Before Oprah became a household name, she started out as the first African American news reporter at a TV station in Nashville her sophomore year of college. Throughout her career, she also set many records winning multiple awards for her show, and in 2018 became the first black woman to win the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille award. Oprah Winfrey has been the first to accomplish several milestones for African American women, and she continues to do so.

• Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour isn’t just iconic for her signature straight across bangs and black sunglasses. She has been the editor in chief of Vogue magazine for over 30 years, and serves as the artistic director for Conde Nast. Anna Wintour has been behind some of the biggest projects that have shaped women's role in the media. Anna Wintour has used her leadership to propel women into executive positions for Vogue and Teen Vogue and to tell the stories of hundreds of women in the United States.

• Betsy Plank

PR Students, if you know you know. Betsy Plank is often referred to as the First Lady of PR, and she has dominated the industry throughout her career. Betsy Plank served as the Executive Vice President of what is now Edleman, and Director of Public Relations planning at AT&T. When Betsy Plank wasn’t creating a path for women in the PR industry she was serving as a board member for the Girl Scouts. Betsy Plank is an iconic woman in the PR industry and did a lot of the ground work to propel women in PR to where they are now.

• Barbara Walters

Whether you watched Barbara Walters yourself on ABC 2020 or grew up in a household that watched her as a news anchor, Barbara Walters is an iconic woman in broadcast journalism. Barbara Walters was the first female co-anchor for the NBC evening news. Although Walters started her career at a time when men dominated the news industry, she did not let that stop her from making a name for herself. Barbara Walters has won several awards for her dedication to journalism and storytelling and has been a trailblazer for creating space for women in journalism since the start of her career.

We could go on and on about women who have changed the game in the media, but we’ll stop here. We would love to hear who comes to mind for you when you think of women who have shaped media!

#women #girlpower #journalism #socialmedia #celebrities #journalists #womenshistorymonth