Connie Chung Speaks At AAA Conference

Connie Chung spoke about the struggle of minorities in journalism and her 27 years of news reporting at the Arco Forum last night.

Chung, a former co-anchor of the CBS Evening News and a current fellow at the Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public Policy, emphasized the difficulty of being a successful correspondent as a minority journalist.

"There were times when I felt life was difficult," Chung said, explaining that she underwent a "hazing period" as a young, female, Asian-American reporter in Washington DC.

Chung described herself as part of the "second wave" of women to break into broadcasting in the early seventies, after Barbara Walters led the first group in the sixties. Over time, Chung said, she struggled to create a niche for herself in a field with few successful minorities.

According to a study published in 1996, 81 percent of TV news organizations don't employ minorities, said Chung. However, Chung said that she hopes her presence is making a difference.

"[I'm] being part of the system and constantly nudging it along," said Chung. "There are a few stories that I did that I think made a difference. That is where I get my kicks."

In addition to a retrospective of her career, Chung gave some advice to prospective journalists on how to succeed in the competitive field of broadcast journalism.

"You have to speak up and interrupt, I urge you to," the former news anchor said, adding that this was especially important for minorities.

Chung encouraged students interested in pursuing a career in news reporting to choose a broad academic focus rather than exclusively studying journalism.

"[It is] much more important to major in English, History and Political Science...[but still] minor in journalism and broadcasting" Chung said.

Chung also encouraged the pursuit of ethnic studies, a department that many students at Harvard have been working to initiate.

"[The discipline provides a] better understanding of inter-cultural relations," Chung said.

Before her speech at the Kennedy School, Chung attended a dinner at Eliot House where she received an award from the College presented by Dr. S. Allen Counter Jr., director of the Harvard Foundation.

Chung spoke as part of the Asian American Intercollegiate Conference, "Shaping Asian America: Visions and Revisions," sponsored by the Asian American Association.

Spectators were impressed by Chung's speech.

"[Chung provided] a good perspective over the period of time she has been in journalism," said Kennedy School Associate Professor Richard Sobel. "[She spoke about] practical problems that she, as a talented individual, has run into."

Chung said her next endeavor will be a syndicated evening news program.