Girl Power?
(Blogging trick number 48: Use attractive celebs' names to get your hit count up. Thanks, Elle!)
They did something called an "Elle Beauty Investigation" about the looks needed for women to succeed in TV news. The piece led off with an anecdote about aspiring TV correspondent Laura Wells, who was (purportedly) lowering herself to dye her hair to advance her career. Unfortunately, the piece seems to have been lacking a modicum of truthiness.
But Wells' dubious biography aside, that doesn't mean that the theme was off-base necessarily. Just how bad is it for women in TV nowadays? I decided to contact two different women, at two very different rungs on the media ladder, to see what the pressures are for women in TV.
First, the lovely and talented YouTube phenomenon that is MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski. I asked her "How bad is the Pressure to Look Good for women on TV today? Does it keep getting worse?" (Loaded question? Me?)
Her response?
Its worse than ever!Apparently, in addition to the previous adjectives, Mika is bucking for "mindbendingly modest," as well. And if someone with both talent and looks has "given up," what chance do most other women have?Everytime I look around they are younger and cuter and cheekier... I get up at 330 am for my show and I'm 40 now so I have simply given up. I realize I will never compete in that department so I feel free of that at least...but yes...its bad...its..very very hard not to feel the pressure to look young. Its silly because I really don't think that's what most people want.
Second, I reached out to the also lovely and also talented Annalisa Petralia (above), who has seen, first-hand, the priority put on looks in TV news. She was the Tyler, Texas anchor who had to share the spotlight with a former bikini model/wrestling diva for a month-long experiment in the Fox reality show/trainwreck "Anchorwoman." I asked her what the pressures were for an up-and-comer in the news business.
Her response?
I have seen older, seasoned journalist women passed over for younger, thin and pretty women, when it comes to anchoring or other promotions.Young women in j-schools across the country, this is what you're getting yourselves into.Unfortunately, in addition to credibility, and experience, the color of their hair, does indeed matter to some news executives.
Many times, blond anchors are replaced with other blond anchors – it's a tactic some news directors use in the hopes that viewers will not notice the sudden departure of a popular on-air personality.
As a woman under 30, I have been told by my mentors that I do have a shelf-life, in terms of age. Men on the other hand, often do not, their value sometimes increases with age.
Personally, I am always keeping my weight, looks, hair and appearance in check. I watch what I eat, work out, take care of my skin and hair, wear the best makeup and anti-wrinkle creams money can buy.
If I don't, the up-and-coming girl behind me, waiting in the wings for her shot, will.
I am a news anchor/reporter on television for a network affiliate, it just goes with the job.