To narrow this down for one woman would be impossible, especially since there are so many inspirational women to look up to. With that being said, this is a thank you to all the women in media.
Thank you, from a young woman studying this industry with hopes to one day work alongside one of you.
First and foremost, I owe a thank you to Mrs. Ida B. Wells. Thank you for being one of the first black women in journalism. You were vocal in your views opposing lynching in a time when people were scared to speak on it. You not only were vocal, but also led your own investigations, thus involving yourself in investigative journalism to inform others. You believed in rights for African Americans, as well as for women. You opened the door and paved the way for future journalists. Mrs. Ida B. Wells, your life and legacy continue to grow with the careers of black women in media today.
To the current women in media, from the hosts and producers at BET and even FOX, to the writers at Ebony Magazine, I thank you. Thank you for inspiring me to keep pushing and to stay focused. Flipping through the channels on my television, or through the pages in a magazine, and seeing your work inspires me to keep pushing. Choosing broadcast journalism was a big decision for me. It was a decision I made to make myself happy. I knew that there was no better career field for me than media, but hearing people speak down on it began to scare me. I constantly heard, and still do hear, that nothing is guaranteed for you in journalism, but what people don't realize is nothing is guaranteed in life. In every field you have to put in hard work and effort to see results. You taught me to work hard and that I would reap the benefits of my hard work one day. You taught me to believe in myself even if no one else did. Oprah was let go at one of her on-air jobs at a television station in Baltimore, Maryland, and went on to become one of the biggest names in media. If that is not inspiring, then what is? These women taught me that there is a need for more young women in media, to be the next batch of producers, writers, editors, on-air talents, and so on. Not only a need for women, but African American journalists in general. I admire your hard work and the hours you put in to be great.
I thank you for all the hard work you all have done to continue to open doors for future journalists like myself. You have left a legacy that I am eager to follow and grow from.