Pate 14
Ellerbee Fights Odds Against Women
By Jan Travers
In 1977, the United States
Commission on Civil Rights released
figures that revealed 90 percent of the
on-air spots on evening network news
shows were filled by men. Ten years
later, National Organization for Women
has released figures that tell a similar
story.
Female newscasters know what
the odds are against getting on-air time
as they move up into the networks.
However, there are a group of hardcore,
determined women who believe that the
quest is not impossible. Linda Ellerbee
is one of these.
In her book, And So It Goes,
Ellerbee provides an entertaining, lightly
sarcastic look at the business and offers
her solutions for survival. Entering the
business, not because of a dream or
ambitions, but because she needed the
money to raise her children, she was
determined not to become a "Twinkie, a
pretty face with an overdeveloped ego,
who you swear even blowdries her
Air Waves And Vibes
by Vicki Koon
In Radio Days Woody Allen says that the radio was more than just as
background noise in his youth. The music, the comedy shows and the
mystery shows were a part of his youth. Radio helped to create his memories.
In honor of Woody Allen, Dr. John Patterson's delightful WITF program, and
the resurrection of WNDR, this month's survey will center around the radio.
1. According to a survey reported over a local radio station, the average person
owns four radios. How many radios do you own? (Don't forget your car
2. How much time per day do you spend listening to the radio (on the
3. Where are you most often when you are listening to the radio?
4. What radio stations do you listen to?
5. Why do you listen to the radio?
6. Arc there any special programs that you enjoy and listen for?
7. Are your listening pleasures satisfied by your favorite stations? Why or
B.Arc there any new programs or different areas of interest which you would
like to see radio address?
9. What kind of a role, if any, would you say that radio plays in your
10. Do you have any ideas or topics which you would like to see this
r address?
teeth."
There is no doubt that
television news is a cosmetic medium,
however, Ellerbee thinks women have
been unfairly signalled out. As an
example, she related how in 1972,
Barbara Walters, then 50 was given the
nickname, "Grande Dame of TV News."
Book Review
When Dan Rather took over the reins of
CBS News he was known as the "Brash
Young Kid." He, too, was 50.
Ellerbee has adopted a
philosophy dealing with this
phenonemon. "Do what you can do,
don't do what you can't, and if they don't
like what you look like, screw them,"
she says in her book.
She carries this wisdom over
into her everyday duties. When she
became the U.S. House of
Representatives correspondent, she
showed up at work wearing jeans. Her
male counterparts protested but there was
Mi==
little they could do. Long ago a dress
code was adopted for men covering
Congress, but it never occurred to the
rulemakers that women could
conceivably be covering the U.S.
Congress. Thus, no dress code for
women.
Women are still seen as second
class citizens at the network and Ellerbee
points out the subtle ways this occurs.
When Ellerbee was covering ex-President
Gerald Ford in Palm Springs, Ford
commented that he was surprised when
he read her biography from the network
and it stated her age and date of birth.
Since none of the men's dossiers
contained similar information, it proves
the value of a woman reporter is still
often as window dressing or "puffery," as
Ellerbee puts it.
Another example occurred in
1984. It's been a custom of NBC to air
a prime time special every two years on
the arrival of the new Congress in
Washington, D.C. Traditionally, it has
been hosted by the correspondent of the
House and the correspondent of the
Senate. In 1984, Ellerbee and Cassie
Last Month's Survey Results
by Vicki Koon
I received thirteen provoking and informative responses to last
month's political survey. I thank you not only for your responses, but for
your ideas as well.
I am not sure now why I thought your age and sex would be
important to this survey. There seems to be no correlation at all between the
answers you have given and your age or your sex. Please forgive me for
wasting your ink. I also apologise for the grammatical error in question #6.
Only three of you feel that we should support the Contras. Your
reasons: "if not now, a few years in Texas," "to reverse the 'Domino Effect',"
and "for the same reason France supported the U.S. in the 1780's -
independence from a tryannical government." Your reasons for being against
support are more varied: "the majority of U.S. people do not support the idea,
and the majority of Nicaraguans do not support the Contras," "they are U.S.
sponsored terrorists! Why the double standard?" "Nicaragua has a right to
determine its own style of government," "they aren't a viable force; it's a
waste of money," and "give the Costa Rican Peace Plan a chance." One of the
reasons that two of you still remain undecided on this issue is that "the press
reports give us news about Contra aide, not the Contras."
Your votes on Robert Bork's nomination parallel your votes on the
Contras. The three of you that feel Bork's nomination should be confirmed,
voted for him because "of his judicial restraint," "none of his 100 majority
opinions have ever been reversed, and of 400 opinions only nine have been
dissents," and "for too long the Supreme Court has been reading things into
the constitution that are not there." But "the U.S. Constitution must reflect
society's changes, must meet challenges of new opportunities and situations"
responded a dissenting voter. That voter does not think- that Bork agrees with
this. Another voter feels that "his record on individual freedoms and civil
rights is scary." Echoing that remark, another voter states that "his writings
in the Illinois Law Review were quite racist." Another voter thinks that "he's
biased and doesn't have an open mind." Of the two of you who are undecided,
one of you stated that you "don't like him, but who else would President
Reagan nominate?"
On the leading presidential hopefuls your answers are as varied as
your ages. For the Democrats, we have four votes for Biden, three votes for
Jackson, two votes for Hart, two "who knows", and one vote each for Cuomo
and Kennedy. In the Republican camp, Bush leads with four votes, Dole
follows with three votes, then Robertson with two votes, and Kemp, Stassen,
and Baker all get one vote each. If you were to cast your vote for the next
president now, Jesse Jackson would win with four votes. Pat Robertson came
in second with two votes. Bush/Kirkpatrick, 011ie North, Joe Biden, and
Walter Mondale all received one vote.
Impressively, twelve of the thirteen respondants are registered to vote
and seven voted in last year's general election. Four of the respondants last
voted in the 1984, and one respondant doesn't remember when he last voted.
Again, thanks for your answers.
Don't forget to deposit surveys in the
Capital Times box in the stairwell off
Newscasters
Mackin were the correspondents. Rather
than cause a scene, NBC did the
honorable thing. They allowed the two
women to anchor the report. But they
got around the problem by airing it at
dawn on a Sunday morning. "No one
saw it," said Ellerbee.
But television news isn't all
disappointments. Ellerbee is quick to
point out how she has grown to love the
unexpected moments confronting her.
She discussed the time when the Iranians
were holding the American hostages and
they (Iranians) staged an emotional rally
outside the U.S. Embassy. The leader of
the gioup stood up in front of the crowd
and had them chanting anti-American
slogans. When the leader got carried
away and tried to get the non-American
speaking Iranians to say, "Down with
the imperial cabinet of the U.S.
Government," he lost the
uncomprehending crowd. At that
instant, a good-natured American reporter
decided to lend a hand. That night on the
Continued on page 15
Oct. 7 1987