Women in Political Media
As the 2012 election season approaches, NYWIFT hosts a discussion with women who work in the political news arena. Topics will include building a successful career in this male-dominated field, various career tracks in political media, and related topics.
The panelists will share their road to their current position, the challenges they faced and the skill set that is needed to navigate and sustain a career in political journalism. You'll walk away with a better understanding of a news journalist’s typical daily workflow, how sensitive political topics are covered and the idiosyncrasies of New York politics.
NYWIFT board member and former MSNBC on-air reporter Christina Brown will moderate the discussion.
Danielle Belton is an award-winning blogger, former print journalist, screenwriter, political and social commentator, and the creator of the pop culture and politics blog blacksnob.com. Belton's work has appeared in The American Prospect, Essence magazine and Jezebel.com. She is a regular guest on NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin, and currently splits her time between Washington, D.C. and her hometown of St. Louis, Mo. Belton is Editor-At-Large of black women's interest website Clutch and a writer for BET's new late-night cable TV show Don't Sleep!, hosted by T.J. Holmes.
Courtney Gross joined NY1's political team in June 2011. In her time with NY1, Gross has filed reports on the city's infrastructure following Hurricane Irene, the fight over same-sex marriage, and the rise in city poverty rates despite the efforts of the Bloomberg administration. Prior to NY1, Gross was the city government editor at Gotham Gazette and covered municipal government in central New Jersey for the Princeton Packet. In 2009, she received the award for Best Web Exclusive Content from the New York Press Club, for her work with the Gotham Gazette staff.
Marie Nelson is a media executive, international communications and outreach strategist with more than 20 years experience working in advocacy, government and private sector organizations. Currently, she serves as Senior Director and Executive Producer of News & Original Programming at BET Networks, where she is responsible for developing documentary and news special projects, including BET's yearlong election 2012 coverage. From 2009 to 2011, Nelson joined the Obama Administration to direct the communications and outreach efforts of the Office of the President's Special Envoy to Sudan at the US Department of State. Prior to government service, she developed NPR’s Tell Me More.
Grace Rauh left the world of print and joined NY1 as a politics reporter in October 2008, after six years of working as a newspaper reporter in New York and California. Before beginning her career in television, she was a staff reporter at The New York Sun, covering City Hall and local politics. Rauh wrote extensively about Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s flirtation with a run for president, the City Council’s slush fund scandal and the run-up to the city’s extension of term limits. She also covered Governor Spitzer’s resignation. As a print reporter, Rauh wrote exclusives and enterprise stories about the mayor and City Council.
Adaora Udoji joined ABC News in 1995 as an off-air reporter working for Cynthia McFadden covering the OJ Simpson criminal trial and other legal stories. In 1996 she became an associate producer for ABC News covering the presidential election, the TWA 800 crash, as well as working on a documentary about death row. The network named her a foreign correspondent in 2000. where she was based in London reporting international stories. She also contributed to Good Morning Amerlca, World News Weekend and ABC Radio. In 2003, Udoji joined CNN, where she served as a New York-based correspondent covering stories from the 2004 presidential election, Katrina, and the West Virginia Sago mine disaster. She was the co-host of The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and a host on Court TV.
Christina Brown (moderator) is an Emmy-Award winning broadcast journalist/TV producer. Brown began her journey into news as a military broadcaster in the Air Force. She then joined NBC's KTSM-TV, where she reported on military and veteran/justice affairs, and anchored daily newscasts. She later moved to Las Vegas as an anchor/reporter for ABC's KTNV-TV. After five years in Las Vegas, she joined NBC News/MSNBC as a network anchor/correspondent. Brown recently launched Christina Brown Entertainment, which develops original content. Brown sits on the board of NYWIFT and is the former President/VP of Broadcast for the LVABJ. She is a member of AFTRA, NATAS and NABJ.
Use the hashtag #WomenInMedia in your tweets!
Produced by Octavia Taylor and Robyn Watson.
NYWIFT programs, screenings and events are supported, in part, by grants from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Last updated: Apr. 4, 2013 
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