Stevie Lacy-Pendleton of the Advance speaks at 'Women in Journalism' forum at CSI

"Don't think anyone will hand it to you. You have to work hard, harder than men."

That advice came from Stevie Lacy-Pendleton, deputy editorial page editor and senior columnist for the Advance, during her presentation yesterday on "Women in Journalism" at the College of Staten Island.

Addressing a group of about 30 in the lecture hall of CSI's Center for the Arts, Ms. Lacy-Pendleton encouraged women to try to achieve any goals they put their mind to. Her own rise to deputy editorial page editor and senior columnist began in 1980 when she accepted a job with the Advance.

"Talent is important, but there are thousands of talented writers who go unpublished, unheralded, and who are unemployed. My success locally and nationally can be attributed to the mentoring I have received from several key individuals at the Advance: Editor Brian Laline in particular, and Mark Hanley, editorial page editor.

"Writers, in fact, women in all professions need good mentors, so I have been extremely lucky."

In her hour-long presentation, she noted that men have always had role models to look up to, while women have had a harder time, especially when it comes to women writers.

"As a schoolgirl, I read about Louisa May Alcott, but not of Phillis Wheatley, a former slave who became the first African-American to have a book of poetry published," said Ms. Lacy-Pendleton.

She used many examples from movies to show how the roles of female journalists have and haven't changed.

Ms. Lacy-Pendleton began with the early film, "Blessed Event," which featured two women journalists -- but both were portrayed as very mannish, and there were hints throughout the film that they might be lesbians.

"The message on film was reflective of society's attitude toward women with professions, in particular those who had the nerve to invade newsrooms: They weren't real women, or good role models, and finally, no man would want to marry them," she said.

The more recent film, "Broadcast News," had the first modern-day portrayal of a woman in journalism.

"She was not dressing mannish and she was allowed to be hard-charging and no-nonsense," said Ms. Lacy-Pendleton.

She closed her remarks with this reminder: "The women in this audience have a responsibility -- you must keep striving in whatever profession you chose -- to level the playing field, not only for yourself, but in honor and memory of the women who opened doors for you, and the little girls who are watching." 

By Jillian Higgins
Reprinted here with permission from the