Hillary Clinton, the first woman to win the Iowa presidential caucus, noted that PBS hosts Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff made history February 11 as the first all-female anchor team to moderate a major presidential debate. She stated that this was the first time there was a majority of women on the stage in more than 200 presidential primary debates. Ifill, 60, and Woodruff, 69, have co-hosted the PBS News Hour since August 2013. They are the first U.S. broadcast network female co-anchor team.
The debate was held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in the Helen Bader Concert Hall at the Helen Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts. I mention the location because it is rare for buildings to be named for women. Attuned to giving women a voice, I also note that the live announcer emcee was Bonnie North from WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio.
Sandra Smith and Trish Regan co-moderated the Fox Business Network GOP undercard debate. ABC's Martha Raddatz and Fox News' Megyn Kelly co-hosted major debates this presidential campaign season
NPR's Pauline Frederick, a pioneer woman in broadcast journalism, was the first female to co-moderate a presidential debate in 1976. But only the three male reporters on the panel asked the candidates questions. So, too, for Barbara Walters with three male journalists, during that election cycle. ABC's Carole Simpson was the first female and African-American to solo moderate a debate during the 1992 election. But most of the questions came from the audience in the town hall style format. CNN's Candy Crowley was the first woman to solo host a presidential debate two decades later, in 2012. That initiative was the result of a petition requesting the Obama and Romney campaigns have a woman presidential debate moderator.
As we approach Women's History Month in March, I deliberately recognize women pioneers and the "First Female" historic milestones above. It was only following FCC license renewal challenges against broadcast stations for sex discrimination in hiring, promotions and programming, that corrective hiring of women on-air talent and in management, resulted, beginning in the 1970s.
In a PBS interview about women's history, it was suggested to me that there may be "First Female Fatigue." To the contrary, I propose we need more "First Female Fervor" to continue and conquer challenges. Together we can support and advance women in every sphere of our professional and personal lives. What do you think?
Let's "Celebrate Women Every Day and Make History!" See "Women Make News & History Every Day Database" on my website: www.beverlywettenstein.com.