EOTO 2 Reflection: Girl Reporters

 

Women journalists have played a crucial role in shaping the field of journalism and bringing important stories to the forefront. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, women journalists have continued to push boundaries and break through barriers to report on issues that matter.

More specifically, girl reporters, also known as stunt reporters, were female journalists who worked in sensationalist journalism, often covering stories that involved danger or risk. It typically involved creating sensational or attention-grabbing content by staging events or engaging in activities that were not typical of traditional journalism. 

Stunt reporters would often participate in dangerous or unusual activities to get a story. These women usually went undercover in an effort to expose certain practices or behaviors. They tackled issues such as child labor, discrimination, and limited opportunities.

In the late 1800s, women had very few rights and faced significant changes in the workforce. For this reason, they had to write under fake names in order to be taken seriously and get their work published. They often wrote male pen names to disguise their true identities. 

Although the boldness and bravery exemplified by each and every girl reporter should be recognized, one woman in particular really paved the way for stunt reporters in the late 1800s. That woman was Nellie Bly.

Bly made a name for herself as a daring journalist who exposed social issues, such as the mistreatment of mental patients in asylums. After committing herself into Blackwell’s Island insane asylum, Bly wrote a novel called “Ten Days in the Madhouse” where she revealed the harsh realities she witnessed as a patient there.  

Bly did not stop there; she continued challenging norms. Bly gained some more notoriety for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, which she chronicled in a series of articles. Her trip was inspired by Jules Verne’s novel, “Around the World in Eighty Days.”

It is important to acknowledge the important role these girl reporters played in breaking down gender barriers in the field of journalism. Their contributions have helped make it possible for future generations of women to succeed and tell important stories from their unique perspectives.