Journalists Throughout History: Reaction

 As our class analyzed the different journalists throughout history who have made an impact on reporting, there were certain people and events that stood out to me as not only interesting but also impactful. I enjoyed learning about all of these people, as they each contributed a lot to the world of journalism, however as mentioned, some stuck with me more than others. 

First, I was very intrigued by Nellie Bly. I thought it was extremely interesting that Nellie Bly was able to fake symptoms in order to get into a mental hospital. From there she exposes the horrors within the mental hospital and brought the abuse of the patients to light. This was not only a huge door that was opened for women, but it also sparked the idea of investigative journalism. Investigative journalism is so prevalent in today's society, and without Nellie Bly's courage, it arguably may not be as prominent as it is. 

Additionally, Mary Margaret McBride was another woman who I was impressed by. Considered "The First Lady of Radio", McBridge paved a path not only for just women in radio, but for radio talk shows in general. It was already difficult for women to get a job, especially in this industry. When McBride scored a job as an on air host, she used her platform to advocate for issues such as civil rights, women's rights, and anti semitism, amongst others. I feel that this was so important because when may people lived in fear to speak up about these issues, she was brave enough to speak about things like this on live radio as a woman. 

Overall, each journalist discussed, and even those not talked about it class, have paved the way one way or another in journalism. A journalist is one of the most demanding careers today, and not many are willing to do it. People like  Nellie Bly, Mary Margaret McBride, and many others, prove that bravery could lead to success.