Broadcasters Bring Stories of Women's Contributions to Their Communities

March 8, 2023

Local television and radio stations provide Americans’ most-trusted news, bringing together fact-based journalists, reliable personalities and unparalleled localism. This Women’s History Month, broadcasters are highlighting stories of women’s contributions and special events to their communities.

Scripps Local Media’ ABC 23 in Bakersfield, Calif., interviewed Lideres Campesinas, an organization of women farm workers, about their efforts and achievements ahead of their Women’s History Month celebration. Broadcasting’s wide reach and deep local connections give stations unparalleled power to shine a light on the needs and work of marginalized communities.

Ciara Speller, anchor at Nexstar Media-owned 22News in Springfield, Mass., served as the emcee of an International Women’s Day event for the second year in a row. This support for local events is one of the many ways broadcasters give back to their communities. “Every year we want to make sure that people recognize the achievements of women, not only around the world, but here in Springfield and Corrina is such a wonderful example of what International Women’s Day is all about. The theme this year is about being inclusive,” Springfield City Counselor Kateri Walsh told the station.

iHeartMedia Chicago stations are joined by the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and Chicago Foundation for Women to present “Women Who WIN Class of 2023,” an annual celebration of dynamic women leaders who have made a significant impact in the community as a direct result of their exceptional leadership. Throughout the month of March, the program will pay tribute to eight women who have shaped Chicago’s history, including a series of on-air and digital vignettes on iHeartMedia Chicago’s six radio stations, websites and social media.

Broadcasters also support the more lighthearted events that make our communities so vibrant. 98.1 Minnesota’s New Country, a St. Cloud, Minn., station owned by Townsquare Media, promoted an event by a local brewery to raise money for Women’s Fund of Central Minnesota. With staff who live in the communities they cover, broadcasters bring a unique local perspective to this coverage. “I play in a winter bags league at Back Shed and for the last two weeks staff at Back Shed have been pretty excited about this release and the event itself, so I'm hoping members of the public are equally excited,” wrote staffer Paul Shea.

Fox Television owned-and-operated station FOX 5 DC was on site at the FITDC HerStory 5K honoring Women’s History Month. "I hope this is inspiring for young women and girls in this area to help them realize that they can make their mark," local Olympian and gymnast Dominique Dawes told the station. "They can make history, they can be a trailblazer and make a positive difference in the area that they live in and who knows they can actually maybe influence a nation, if not globally, as well."

Broadcasters also explore local history and bring forgotten stories to light. TEGNA-owned KING 5 Seattle shared a feature on Bertha Knight Landes, the first woman elected mayor of Seattle or of any major American city. “A lot of the same issues around transportation, around unhoused people and many who were economically disadvantaged, she was dealing with many of the same issues 100 years ago,” Historian Feliks Banel told the station.