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CNN Sunday Morning

'Washington Post' Publisher Paved the Way for Women in Journalism

Aired July 22, 2001 - 08:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Funeral services will be held tomorrow in Washington for publisher Katharine Graham. She will be remembered for the impact she made at "The Washington Post" and for the paths she chartered for women in the media.

Our report is from Michael Gergiulo of CNN affiliate WTTG in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL GERGIULO, WTTG CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Katharine Graham's legacy is at work today in the newsroom.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think men finally began to stand up and respect what a woman could do in journalism.

GERGIULO: And perhaps most significantly, in the publisher's office.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: By the time somebody in my age bracket came to the working world, the opportunity was already there for us. There was no struggle to say, "a woman can't do this."

GERGIULO: Women today make up nearly half of all newspaper employees, doubling in presence over the past 30 years. But it was a different story when Katharine Graham took over "The Washington Post" in the early '60s.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The old boys network was there. I think it would've been very difficult to people to take you seriously.

GERGIULO: But there was no choice but to take seriously the woman who refused to back down to the Pentagon and the White House. Steely resolve that helped change the prejudices against women not only as newsroom bosses, but as corporate leaders.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think what she represented for us is the possibility that if you're prepared, if you get results, if you have a standard of excellence and you adhere to those with integrity, that you can make it to the top.

GERGIULO (on camera): Now, no one would suggest that Katharine Graham by herself revolutionized the opportunities for women and others in the media news organizations, but every revolution does need someone who's willing to go first, to risk it all and to succeed.

(voice-over): And also to leave her own mark, donating WHUR Radio to Howard University, where Stephanie Gaines-Bryant (ph) reports the news.

STEPHANIE GAINES-BRYANT, RADIO NEWSCASTER: The newsroom is just full of people, black, white, women, men, all different races and creeds and colors. I think she played a big role in that. She was a good role model.

GERGIULO: And a remarkable woman who helped make it happily unremarkable to find women in charge today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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