Throughout history, women have not only fought to achieve equality and respect but also to prosper in their professions. Journalism, in particular, has not always been an inclusive field for women, however, the strides that have been made since the profession emerged have been profound. Various waves of feminist movements throughout the late 19th to 20th century brought forward some of the most influential writers and reporters, including but not limited to the women mentioned below.
Ida B. Wells-Barnett: 1862-1931
Arguably the most well-known female journalist of the late 19th and early 20th century, Ida B. Wells-Barnett’s publications and research not only revealed the inhumane treatment of African Americans in the South but also contributed to the advancement of both civil and women’s rights in the United States.
Wells-Barnett faced many adversities throughout her life as an activist and fueled her passion for bettering society. These incidents include being expelled from a first-class cabin on a train despite having a ticket, having her press burned after she publicized findings regarding white mob violence, and facing ridicule from women’s suffrage organizations that ceased to acknowledge lynching in the South.
Despite the adversity she faced, Ida B. Wells-Barnett persevered, later founding the National Association of Colored Women’s Club which confronted women’s suffrage and civil rights concerns. As a journalist, she traveled through the South to document the truth behind the unjustifiable conditions of newly freed African Americans. Among many of her discoveries, one of the most notable was the stereotype of black men being lynched for allegedly raping white women. Before it was destroyed by rioters, Wells-Barnett worked for and co-owned The Memphis Free Press and Headlight.
Dorothy Thompson: 1893-1961
After working as a women’s rights activist in the 1920s, Dorothy Thompson decided to travel to Europe to further her career in journalism. Working as the European bureau chief for the New York Evening Post, Thompson published articles detailing the political situation that surrounded Germany at the time. Later in her career, Thompson interviewed Hitler for Cosmopolitan before his appointment to the position of Chancellor in 1933. Following the publication of this article titled “I Saw Hitler!” Thompson was exiled from Germany by Hitler himself, who regarded her writing as blasphemy. At this moment, she became the first journalist to be removed from Nazi Germany.
After this incident, Thompson dedicated herself to revealing the terror that was Hitler and the Nazi regime. Through her writing, she attempted to persuade American citizens to welcome European refugees by detailing not only the conditions in Europe but also the benefits that immigration could bring to the American economy and workforce. She continued this work into World War II, publishing many written articles and radio broadcasts that spoke out against the Nazis. In her Christmas Declaration, published in December of 1942, Thompson stated that “We, Americans of German descent, utterly repudiate every thought and deed of Hitler and his Nazis.” This declaration brought a sense of urgency to the genocide and religious persecution of the Jewish people in Germany, capturing the essence of Thompson’s successful career.
Katharine Graham: 1917-2001
During what is commonly referred to as the Watergate scandal, Katharine “Kay” Graham worked as The Washington Post’s CEO. During her time as CEO and editor, she published both the Pentagon Papers and Watergate story, two of the largest news stories of the 20th century.
At the time of the death of her husband Phillip Graham, Katharine assumed the role of CEO of The Washington Post. While she was not initially held in high regard as a female in the field of journalism by her male colleagues, she quickly gained the respect she deserved by taking leadership at the Post and boldly publishing the 7,000-page government document that revealed details of the Vietnam war, known as the Pentagon Papers. Even while Graham received threats from the Nixon administration as the Watergate scandal came to light, she remained steadfast in her belief in freedom of the press and continued to follow the story.
Although she was never professionally trained in journalism, Graham quickly learned the ropes of a controversial and meticulous profession. Later in her career, she published a personal memoir titled Personal History, which later won a Pulitzer Prize.
Anna Politkovskaya: 1958-2006
A “fierce critic of Vladimir Putin” (IPI), Anna Politkovskaya was a war reporter that followed the Russian war in Chechnya before her assassination over 15 years ago. During her time as a writer for Novaya Gazeta, Politkovskaya raised accusations against the Chechen Republic and its political figures and detailed war crimes that took place throughout the conflict.
While working in such a controversial and hostile environment, Politkovskaya’s mission to shed light on the cruel conditions in Russia and its surrounding countries did not waver. In 2001, she was captured in southern Chechnya and faced a mock execution before her release, and later became a leader in terrorist negotiations during the Nord-Ost theatre siege in 2002.
Until the day of her death, Politkovskaya continued to investigate and reveal crimes and injustices throughout Chechnya. While it still remains unclear who ordered and conducted her assassination, Anna Politkovskaya’s brave actions have deemed her a role model in the eyes of many young Russian journalists.
Works Cited
Norwood, Arlisha. “Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” National Women’s History Museum. National Women’s History Museum, 2017. March 11, 2022.
Walker, Malea. “Ida B. Wells and the Activism of Investigative Journalism.” Ida B. Wells and the Activism of Investigative Journalism | Headlines and Heroes, 12 Feb. 2020, https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2020/02/ida-b-wells-and-the-activism-of-investigative-journalism/.
“Dorothy Thompson.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/americans-and-the-holocaust/personal-story/dorothy-thompson.
“Katharine Graham.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 12 Apr. 2018, https://www.washingtonpost.com/brand-studio/fox/katharine-graham/.
Koskinen, Ronja. “Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: ‘She Became a Role Model for Many Young Russian Journalists’.” International Press Institute, International Press Institute, 24 Feb. 2022, https://ipi.media/remembering-anna-politkovskaya-she-became-a-role-model-for-many-young-russian-journalists/.