TEDx Talks - Women in media | Laura Brounstein | TEDxParkCityWomen
The conversation revolves around the experiences of two women who started their careers in women's magazines and have since transitioned into various roles, including political campaign communications. They emphasize the importance of storytelling in women's media, particularly in uplifting women's voices and issues. One of the speakers shares her journey from working in magazines to becoming a spokesperson for a presidential campaign, highlighting the challenges and learning curves she faced. She discusses the significance of personal stories in media, especially in the context of political campaigns, and how these stories can connect people to larger issues. The discussion also touches on the evolving nature of media platforms and the importance of adapting to new storytelling mediums like social media. Additionally, the role of friendships and peer support in career advancement is highlighted, with examples of how personal connections have led to new opportunities and career shifts.
Key Points:
- Storytelling in women's media is crucial for amplifying women's voices and issues.
- Transitioning from magazines to political campaigns involves adapting to new communication roles and challenges.
- Personal stories in media can effectively connect audiences to broader issues.
- Adapting to new media platforms like social media is essential for modern storytelling.
- Friendships and peer networks play a significant role in career development and opportunities.
Details:
1. 👭 Beginnings in Women's Media
- Our careers in women's media began with our work in women's magazines, which became a foundational experience for both of us.
- Laura and I have each taken diverse paths within the media industry, showcasing our broad and varied experiences.
- Laura possesses incredible stories and insights from her time in media, underscoring her extensive experience in the field.
- To transition smoothly, understanding our beginnings helps appreciate the journey and insights we bring today.
2. 🌟 Embracing Career Pivots
- Both individuals began their careers in women's magazines, which laid the foundation for their storytelling skills.
- Their career journeys involved multiple pivots, each time leveraging storytelling to connect with new audiences and industries.
- An example of their pivot includes moving from traditional media roles to digital content creation, illustrating adaptability and the continuous application of storytelling.
- These transitions highlight the versatility of storytelling as a tool for career development and audience engagement.
3. 🗣️ Stepping into Spokesperson Role
- Transitioned from a consultant for Biden's presidential campaign to a full-time spokesperson in June.
- Initially worked remotely from New York City before relocating to Wilmington, Delaware for the campaign.
- Responsibilities included representing the campaign to women's and consumer media, enhancing public engagement.
- The role involved strategic communication, handling media inquiries, and crafting messages to align with campaign goals.
4. 📈 Navigating Mid-Level Campaign Work
- The speaker embraced a spokesperson role for women's and consumer media, despite not having formal communications experience for years, showcasing adaptability and a commitment to skill enhancement.
- The evolving media landscape presented a learning curve, underlining the necessity for professionals to remain current with industry developments.
- Taking a midlevel position in a campaign, the speaker demonstrated the strategic value of engaging in roles outside senior management for broader experience.
- The transition to a midlevel role was described as thrilling and liberating, illustrating how such shifts can offer fresh perspectives and opportunities for personal development.
- While the speaker appreciated management roles, they found merit in focusing on specific job functions without managerial responsibilities, highlighting the benefits of specialization.
5. 📢 Communication and Information Passion
- The speaker enjoys focusing on personal work without external concerns, indicating a preference for autonomy in work.
- There is a challenge in wanting to intervene in problems but recognizing it as outside their job scope, emphasizing the importance of role clarity.
- Leaders are seen as knowledgeable about team dynamics and responsible for information dissemination, highlighting the value of leadership transparency.
- The speaker expresses a passion for being a spokesperson and sharing information, indicating a strong communication drive.
- There is an appreciation for storytelling and being an information conduit, suggesting a strategic advantage in roles requiring communication skills.
- Effective communication strategies could enhance leadership transparency and team dynamics, illustrating the necessity of clear and consistent information flow.
6. 🏛️ Experiencing Historic Campaign Shifts
- The transition from President Biden to Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket marked a historic moment for women and the nation, reflecting a strategic shift in political leadership.
- President Biden's endorsement of Vice President Harris, announced on a Sunday, led to a rapid change in campaign strategy by Monday, underscoring the pace and high stakes of presidential campaigns.
- This shift was described as intense and fascinating, providing insights into the complexities and dynamics of managing a presidential campaign, while also highlighting the broader political implications and potential impact on voter engagement and support.
7. 👩💻 Women's Media Advocacy
- Initiated basic outreach to women's media contacts, enhancing communication and relationship-building.
- Engaged with editors from major publications like Glamour, The Times, PopSugar, and Bustle, indicating a strategic approach to reach a wide audience.
- Focused on storytelling that highlights the historical candidacy of the first Black and Indian woman running for president, showcasing an opportunity to amplify diverse voices in media.
- Implemented targeted strategies such as personalized pitches and leveraging social media to strengthen media connections.
- Achieved successful media mentions and features, increasing visibility and awareness of the campaign.
- Continuously monitored media trends and adjusted outreach tactics to maintain relevance and effectiveness.
8. 📖 Evolving Storytelling Techniques
- The transition from magazine editing to content roles at major tech companies like WeWork marked a strategic pivot in response to industry shifts, showcasing adaptability in content creation strategies.
- Utilizing editorial and writing experience to collaborate with other editors and writers was key to effectively communicating campaign narratives, demonstrating the power of teamwork in enhancing storytelling.
- Relocating to Delaware was a strategic decision to contribute to The Campaign, emphasizing the importance of women's media and storytelling in shaping public discourse and influencing societal norms.
9. 🤝 Friendships Fueling Career Growth
- Storytelling platforms have evolved, with TikTok becoming a significant medium that wasn't anticipated a decade ago.
- Personal narratives are more impactful and memorable than broad statistics, which is crucial for effective communication.
- Personal stories, especially those from women affected by healthcare issues, can foster empathy and understanding, demonstrating narrative power in advocacy.
- Women excel in communication through storytelling by sharing personal experiences, which enhances connection and understanding.
- Friendships and personal connections play a crucial role in career growth, as they provide support, mentorship, and opportunities.
- Leveraging personal stories and friendships can lead to career advancements and open new professional pathways.
10. 🔗 Mentorship and Networking Impact
- Social media enables access to diverse personal stories, enhancing connectivity to issues and broadening perspectives, while also reinforcing confirmation bias through algorithms.
- Developing friendships is crucial in career development, providing guidance, opportunities, and support, often more effectively than traditional mentorship.
- Investing in friendships can lead to career opportunities, illustrated by transitions to roles at WeWork and in political campaigns, facilitated by personal networks.
- Maintaining long-term connections, such as those made during the Hillary campaign, can result in future job opportunities, showcasing the importance of sustained networking.
- The move from magazines to a mission-driven company demonstrates how personal networks can aid in significant career transitions, emphasizing the strategic value of networking.