To: the managing editors and producers of the top print and broadcast newsrooms in the country
Tell the news media that Hillary Clinton showed strength, not weakness!
When Hillary Clinton felt faint and had to leave a 9/11 memorial ceremony early, the news media got the story completely wrong. She chose to power through PNEUMONIA rather than leave the campaign trail. THIS should have been the story of the day — that despite the heat, humidity and illness (pneumonia!), Hillary Clinton still showed up!
We expect more than hysterical, overblown, and sexist reporting from the news media — and want to see it apply journalistic integrity to all its presidential campaign coverage!
We expect more than hysterical, overblown, and sexist reporting from the news media — and want to see it apply journalistic integrity to all its presidential campaign coverage!
Why is this important?
Our outrage goes beyond how Hillary is being treated by the media. It’s also about how the women of America are treated — and like it or not, the way the media reports on women leaders has an impact on how we treat each other, including wage and hiring discrimination. This is a big deal. The truth of the matter is that women (and men) across the United States get sick and power through their responsibilities all the time without anyone calling into question their fitness to do their jobs — they have to, since the United States is the only industrialized country in the world where not everyone has access to paid sick days and paid family and medical leave.
While both men and women get sick, the data shows that women are disproportionately put in the penalty box for getting ill. To be blunt, women and mothers are often “damned if we do and damned if we don’t” when it comes to how we’re perceived in the workplace. If we need time off, we’re considered weak. If we show up as Clinton did even though she’s sick, then we’re also considered weak. It’s a no-win situation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has yet to even release his health records! He sleeps four hours a night, never exercises and maintains a high-cholesterol, high-calorie diet. But where’s the outcry questioning his fitness to serve based on his health?
This election is too important to let the news media continue to take every opportunity to paint Hillary Clinton, our first major woman presidential candidate, as weak. It’s time to call out the news media on its biased, sexist reporting.
While both men and women get sick, the data shows that women are disproportionately put in the penalty box for getting ill. To be blunt, women and mothers are often “damned if we do and damned if we don’t” when it comes to how we’re perceived in the workplace. If we need time off, we’re considered weak. If we show up as Clinton did even though she’s sick, then we’re also considered weak. It’s a no-win situation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has yet to even release his health records! He sleeps four hours a night, never exercises and maintains a high-cholesterol, high-calorie diet. But where’s the outcry questioning his fitness to serve based on his health?
This election is too important to let the news media continue to take every opportunity to paint Hillary Clinton, our first major woman presidential candidate, as weak. It’s time to call out the news media on its biased, sexist reporting.