First Female Editor at the New York Times
It was announced last week that Jill Abramson has been named the editor of the New York Times. The first time a woman will be in that position in the newspaper’s 160 year history.
The Women’s Media Center has a great article about the promotion. Here is a portion of it:
“The news last week of Jill Abramson’s promotion to executive editor of the New York Times cheered feminists and female journalists alike, perhaps no one more than the women who sued the newspaper in 1974 over sex discrimination in hiring, pay and promotion.
“Finally! I thought I was not going to be able to hold my breath long enough,” said Betsy Wade, a former foreign desk copy chief who under her married name, Elizabeth W. Boylan, was the first named plaintiff in the 1974 lawsuit. “I’m immensely pleased. Just delighted.”
“I was very pleased. I said to myself ‘well, it’s about time!’” added Grace Glueck, a former art critic who was also among the seven named plaintiffs.”
There was a women’s page journalist turned bureau reporter who had to sue for sex discrimination. Her name is Mary Lou Butcher and she sued the Detroit News after being marginalized due to her gender. I presented a paper on her lawsuit that I hope to turn into a paper.
