Broadcast Journalism: What They Don't Tell You.



Phyllis Washington

 Reporters scream at their editors as the deadline for the 6 o’clock news approaches. Phyllis Washington, a former intern for Channel 4 News is now a Graduate Advisor for the University of Colorado at Denver Global Energy Management Department. Phyllis had no idea that broadcast journalism would be a such a battlefield.


Working her way up from the bottom of the totem pole, Phyllis did various tasks from getting coffee to actually interviewing top political movers and shakers. It came as a shock when other women reporters saw her as a threat and refused to give her tips to improve her journalism skills.

“There were times that I wanted to scream and walk right out of thenewsroom, but instead I took a deep breath and let it go” said Phyllis. “At the end of the day, it’s not that serious.”

Phyllis also felt that in order to “make it” in broadcast journalism, “you have to fit a certain prototype—light skin and straight hair.” Rarely do you see women of color reporters and anchors who wear their hair natural/curly. As a result, the only person that took an interest in mentoring Phyllis was African-American reporter Chris Schauble. He would not only give her valuable constructive criticism but would also bring her along to interview people.

Having to ask a family how they felt when they found out their daughter’s murderer was convicted to prison for life was Phyllis’s hardest interview. “Overcoming some of my personal feelings was difficult at times, but I found that as long as I was true to my values and beliefs that I could make it through.”