The Bookworm hosts “There’s No Crying in Newsrooms” reading

By: Samantha Weideman

No one was crying at the Bookworm Friday.

The bookstore, located on 90^th and Center streets, hosted a reading and discussion of “There’s No Crying in Newsrooms,” by author Kristin Gilger.

The senior associate dean for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication described her own experiences in the field of journalism. Over the course of her 20-year career in journalism, Gilger worked at various publications including the Times-Picayune, The Arizona Republic and the Statesman Journal.

Part qualitative research, part anecdote and practical advice, Gilger’s book (co-written by Julia Wallace) shines a light on women in the male-dominated field of journalism and the “quadrupled” expectations they’ve faced—and continue to face—throughout the decades.

Gilger recounted a story from a woman who was groped by a co-worker in a TV control room and after realizing she could, in fact, swear, loudly said, “take your hand off my ass.”

She also read an excerpt from her book that described a woman dissuading Dan Rather from needlessly entering a warzone. 

During the Q&A session, Gilger said her favorite experience as a journalist was as the suburban editor at the Times-Picayune in New Orleans from 1983 to 1993.

“That was a great place for news and a wonderful organization at the time,” Gilger said.

To conclude, Gilger signed copies of her book and imparted wisdom to those in attendance. Her next public reading and discussion will take place Oct. 22 at Harvard University with co-author Wallace.