Atlanta's media landscape has been fundamentally shaped by women who refused to be silenced or sidelined, a panel discussion at the Atlanta Cultural Exchange highlighted Monday.
The event, "Unapologetically Influential: The Women Who Defined Atlanta's Media Culture," brought together five prominent media figures to discuss their careers and legacies.
The panelists were Janis Ware, publisher of The Atlanta Voice; Monica Pearson, an award-winning journalist and former news anchor at WSB-TV; Joyce Littel, a radio personality known for her work on V-103's "The Quiet Storm"; Rashan Ali, a multimedia personality; and Dawn Montgomery, a media strategist and culture critic. Liz Smith, a television and radio personality, moderated the discussion.
Ware, who has spent nearly five decades leading The Atlanta Voice, which was founded by her father, emphasized the distinction between influence and success.
"I can't count the number of people who have crossed through the doors and who work with us," Ware said. "It's important for us to be influential, to be powerful, and to reach back and help other young people. The fact is that the road is a little rockier today in the news industry, so we just have to pray that we can continue to make certain our stories are heard and that they remain relevant in this environment."
Pearson, the first female and minority evening news anchor at WSB-TV, recalled being among the first women to break through barriers in broadcast journalism.
"That's the thing about moving to Atlanta, particularly way back then," Pearson said. "52 years ago, the city was growing, and it provided an opportunity for women, and particularly Black women on air to change the story, and that was important. Because when I look at the number of women who are now on the air, you just take it for granted."
Littel, who has been in radio for 42 years, urged younger journalists to seek guidance from veteran media professionals.
"I guess my hair's too gray, I'm too old to tell you something, but I should be able to tell you something, because I'm still in it," Littel said. "42 years in, and I don't play, so I just need for our younger audience and people to know that yes, this is a digital world, and you are influencers, but we are too. And maybe we can help you go through some spaces that you might not have to go through because you asked us about it."
The panelists discussed the personal costs of being first in their respective fields, including workplace discrimination and public scrutiny. They encouraged the audience to build and protect their personal values as anchors in a shifting media landscape.
