🎙️ Yesterday our CEO Beth Monaghan and Director of Media Strategy Smitha Rao chatted with Contessa to learn more about the incredible journalism career she’s built and the insights she’s learned along the way. Watch the full interview and read her main takeaways here:
💬 Own your mistakes. “Whatever your most embarrassing moment is – yours probably didn’t happen on national television. Mine did. I’ve lived through it and survived it.” Contessa recounts a time earlier in her career when she interviewed Reverend Jesse Jackson and referred to him with the wrong name due to a teleprompter error. She called him afterward to apologize and it led to a long-lasting connection that she wouldn’t have otherwise. The best thing you can do is own your mistake and move on.
🤝 Support women and men. Contessa reflected on the many women she’s worked with over the years who’ve helped her navigate the newsroom. And she talked about women’s natural skills as networkers and organizers. “Women have something to teach men about networking and supporting each other…Men should capitalize on some of the same tools that women bring to the table.”
💃 Embrace change. Because there are always going to be things out of our control. “Trying to be adaptable and ready to reinvent ourselves, learn a new skill, move in a new direction…For me, that’s what 2022 is all about. How do I remain flexible in the face of adversity and change?”
JUST FOLLOWING UP 🙋
🖼️ Pictures are worth a thousand words when it comes to broadcast media according to Contessa. Ask yourself: who or what can illustrate this story? Hint: B-roll still rules.
🤔 And don’t forget this pro tip from Contessa: Focus on telling stories that elicit emotion or make the audience think.
