This week in the Women in Media Series, I am highlighting my previous professor Tamani Wooley. Her career is impressive, she is a successful broadcasting anchor and professor. She is constantly spreading her knowledge through both outlets. When she reflected on her career Tamani stated: “These stories are making a difference, I don’t know where else you get that.” She originally did not plan on this career, she was a stage actress pursuing her Broadway dream. When her acting coach started a video streaming company, and she worked as their entertainment broadcaster.
During this time she interviewed celebrities and important public figures, furthering her experience. She stated that she started with internships when she decided to pursue communications. She liked the structure of the profession because she “never planned to be 9-5 at a desk job.” I asked Tamani if she has faced discrimination by her male counterparts and she stated: “I think people in the business know, and I think people who watch it think it’s glamorous.”
She told me that she is the one who does her hair and makeup every day, emphasizing that broadcasters “do everything.” Mentioning that if you do good work, then people will take you seriously. Although, she did say how women are held to a different standard to me in the context on how they look and present themselves. Recalling on a male counterpart that wore the same purple shirt every day. While, when she wore a jacket on air and could not wear it for a month.
It can be a loss, loss situation at times because it may “get in the way of the work you do and put out there.” Any distraction such as hair or outfit will make the story fall to the waist side. Even though it may be an important story that the audience needs to know, not to mention the work that was put into it.
When asked how to counteract this issue, she simply stated that your work should always come first. Emphasizing that millennials need to understand that you have to pay your dues. “You are not entitled to a thing, in this business it takes time, it a skill set that you have to develop.” Her biggest advice to millennials pursuing this industry is that you need to “do the work and being open to comments from people in business.”
As her previous student, I can attest that she always reinforced in us that you do everything in this profession. You will write the script, schedule interviews, conduct them, produce, and edit. She reflected upon why she is a professor, saying that being a professor is the way she pays it forward. She is excited to “mold the next generation of the journalists.” Furthering this statement by saying it is exciting because young people are not jaded by the business, and "you have to remember that you were there once."
Of the many attributes one can use to describe Tamani, generous is easily one of the top attributes. She does not hesitate to help the younger generation, stating “when it is your turn to mentor someone, you do it.” She is always there to give advice and to help a student take their work to the next level. She is easily a role model to me, and other young women who had her as a professor. She reflected upon her role model when she was first pursuing media, mentioning that it was Oprah Winfrey.
She will always tell students that the broadcast profession is rewarding but time-consuming. Saying that the worst part about it are the hours and your time is not always your time. Instead, your time is the public’s, you are constantly finding stories that will be relevant to them. She was telling me that most people will leave by the time they are 45 to 50, which leaves room for the younger generation.
Tamani Wooley embraces best of both worlds, as a professor and broadcaster she makes a difference, gives people a voice, and she always has a chance to be creative. Thus, sharing her creativity and voice to her students, the younger generation of journalists who are eager to learn.
