Name: Vicky Janowski
Career: Editor
Publications: Greater Wilmington Business Journal and WILMA magazine
Vicky Janowski is editor of the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and WILMA magazine, where she has been since 2012. She also is co-director of WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative. Janowski previously wrote about the healthcare industry for the StarNews, where she also served as a local news editor. She covered politics and state government for Morris News Service in Atlanta and was a business reporter and bureau chief for The Augusta Chronicle in Georgia. She currently serves as president for the Asian American Journalists Association’s North Carolina chapter. Originally from Fayetteville, Janowski has lived in Wilmington since 2007.
[Photo courtesy of Vicki Janowski]
HC: Did/do you ever experience any challenges specifically linked to being a woman during your journey in your career?
VJ: I have not experienced some of the things I’ve heard about from other women they’ve met in their career as far as roadblocks or discriminatory behavior. While the media industry overall, like in many other fields, has a way to go to have more women represented in top leadership positions, I’ve always been lucky to work with women in the newsrooms I’ve been in who have served as leader role models.
HC: Do you have any advice for a young woman pursuing a career in the media industry?
VJ: Know your stuff. Do your homework. Whether that’s about your news beat, goings on in the community or the changing media industry – taking the time to be informed about the issues helps your credibility. When I was in my 20s and covering the Georgia legislature in Atlanta, there were times I felt intimidated by older sources. My response was to make sure I knew something about the topics, policies, issues to be taken seriously. That also goes for journalism – never stop learning how to be a better reporter and writer.
HC: Is there something you have learned working in journalism that no one ever taught you?
VJ: Curiosity, and a good dose of skepticism, is your best tool. That’s how you’ll find stories, learn about people and figure out how to look where others aren’t.
HC: Lastly, what has it been like being the president for the Asian American Journalists Association’s North Carolina chapter?
VJ: I’ve been involved with the Asian American Journalists Association for over a decade, both in Atlanta and here. As newsrooms have shrunk, it’s become more challenging to ensure that a range of perspectives is represented. Diversity in the newsroom, whether from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, life experiences or even hobbies, can only help when it comes to putting together a rich and interesting newspaper. Our readers don’t share the same perspectives, and our newsrooms shouldn’t either.