Freedom of Speech
The female voice is not one voice. We speak of different loves, different losses. We speak from power. And from vulnerability. We, as humans in this world, voice different political views, different career goals, different beliefs about what family means.
Some of us speak loudly. (I’m among them. Ask anyone who knows me.) And some of us make a point by saying nothing all. What’s imperative is that we live in a community, like Frederick, where women of all voices can be heard. That’s why the message of S.H.E. Week—to say, “we see you, we support you, we hear you” to all women in our community—is so important.
That’s also why I’ve worked for The Frederick News-Post for more than 10 years. As a media outlet and especially as a local newspaper, our imperative is to give voice to individuals, whether through reporting, letters to the editor and, yes, advertisements in which local businesses deliver their own messages.
Stop by our editorial and advertising offices and you’ll see that more than half of our staff helping to amplify those voices is women.
In 1985, I became the first female advertising director in my former company. While I have seen challenges over the years, I’ve also witnessed local media on the forefront of supporting women’s careers.
I’ve been very blessed to have a career in newspapers where the definition of success included mentoring younger female colleagues, and the freedom to support them as they learned, grew, started families, retired and even passed away.
We, as women in business, have different ideas about what’s possible, and what should be possible. Let’s talk about both during S.H.E Week.
About the Frederick News Post
Connie Hastings, Revenue Director, Frederick News-Post. In addition to discussing local news, Frederick News-Post, the local paper of Frederick County, Maryland, addresses international, national, and regional news. The paper publishes seven days a week and had weekday paid circulation of 33,082 and Sunday paid circulation of 34,602 in 2011.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.