At the invitation of the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the University of Tennessee Women’s Coordinating Council, Moxley Carmichael CEO Cynthia Moxley moderated a panel on March 25 on the subject of women in journalism. Topics covered included the “glass ceiling” and whether it still exists (it does!) and whether women politicians are covered differently than their male counterparts (they are!). But one of the more lively parts of the discussion centered around why some women journalists insist on dressing provocatively while they are doing their jobs – and whether this hurts their chances of being treated equally. We thought you’d like to see some of the examples used in the discussion. Thanks to the wonderful journalists who participated in the panel: Jean Ash, formerly of WIVK; Georgiana Vines, political columnist for the News Sentinel; Erin Donovan of WBIR-TV; and Jigsha Desai, of the News Sentinel and knoxnews.com.

1. Women in Journalism
A 2010 Check-in

2. Missouri School of Journalism
1960
2/3 of students were male
2006
2/3 of students were female

3. “Women look around and the
lack of men in their classes
makes them think that gender
isn’t an issue. But in reality,
that’s not the case.”
Geneva Overholser
Former editor, Des Moines Register
Currently holds chair in Missouri School of Journalism

4. Men are sources more than
twice as often as women
Includes newspapers, cable TV,
network news and online
16,800 stories; 45 media outlets
Columbia University (2005)
Project for Excellence in Journalism

23. Women in Journalism
A 2010 Check-in