Women
are U.S. Senators. They are Supreme Court justices. They are Fortune 500 CEOs.
They are Secretary of State. They are astronauts. But not one woman has
been the managing editor of the nation’s leading news weekly, Time, in its 90 years of existence.
Until
now.
It’s
hard to believe, that in the world of publishing, an X chromosome has never led
the vaunted magazine. Who would’ve thought America would have a black president
before Time appoints a woman this high?
Time,
which has 4.9 million Twitter followers, has managed to retain its readership,
as total circulation of subscribers and newsstand buyers stands at 3.3 million.
But sales at the newsstand have fallen 39% in the past five years.
So
is Time to be applauded for its
newest appointment or should it be criticized for taking so long to make such a
move? Yes is the answer, on both ends.
On
the other hand, no one’s asking if she’s any good. Maybe the only thing she has
going for her is her gender. I’d assume she is qualified and potentially brings
a new perspective to the publication, regardless of sexuality.
It’s
hard to believe, given women make up the majority of the country and consist of
the majority of newly minted college graduates that so many high-level
positions still go unfilled by women.
The
fact that the liberal bastion of publishing and media still lags in the
advancement of women at a place like Time
is mind boggling. But reform and change must not stop there.
How
diverse is the media industry when it comes to its workforce? I don’t just mean
sexually, racially, or age-wise, but in terms of its members' training, viewpoints, and
ideas? We need fresh thoughts to lead the soulful growth of society.
Perhaps
Time’s appointment of a woman to lead
it proves to be a great move. Or it can be a dud. But it’s a step in the right
direction. For an industry in flux and change, due to the Internet and economy,
change won’t be complete until the media truly reflects the American landscape.
It’s
about time.
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog
are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter.
You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He
feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2013
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