Women on air: Need advice to give to intern

[Another OMB]

This is for the women out there on air, or who work with those who are. I have an intern who works with me who is hoping to get a job as a reporter and she eventually wants to be an anchor. In her capacity now, she's not seen on air, but she's meeting with state officials, going to the Statehouse, conducting interviews, etc.

Here's the dilemma: a lot of what she wears is inappropriate for on-air or even for a professional setting. I'm talking about blouses or dresses that are very low cut, mini-skirts, extremely tight jeans, that kind of thing.

I have two questions:
1. What would be the best way to bring up the subject with her? As a man, my first inclination is the direct approach. But telling her, "Look, I know you want to be a reporter or anchor, but you dress kinda sleazy. So if you want to make it on-air, you need to change your wardrobe" probably isn't the best approach.

2. What guidelines should I tell her as far as what she should and should not wear? I'm guessing if I bring it up, she may say something along the lines of "What's wrong with what I wear now?"

There's also the problem of cost. She is a paid intern, but having just graduated from college and having student loans and car problems, I know she doesn't have much to spend on new clothes.

[TVMattNYC]

This is for the women out there on air, or who work with those who are. I have an intern who works with me who is hoping to get a job as a reporter and she eventually wants to be an anchor. In her capacity now, she's not seen on air, but she's meeting with state officials, going to the Statehouse, conducting interviews, etc.

Here's the dilemma: a lot of what she wears is inappropriate for on-air or even for a professional setting. I'm talking about blouses or dresses that are very low cut, mini-skirts, extremely tight jeans, that kind of thing.

I have two questions:
1. What would be the best way to bring up the subject with her? As a man, my first inclination is the direct approach. But telling her, "Look, I know you want to be a reporter or anchor, but you dress kinda sleazy. So if you want to make it on-air, you need to change your wardrobe" probably isn't the best approach.

2. What guidelines should I tell her as far as what she should and should not wear? I'm guessing if I bring it up, she may say something along the lines of "What's wrong with what I wear now?"

There's also the problem of cost. She is a paid intern, but having just graduated from college and having student loans and car problems, I know she doesn't have much to spend on new clothes.

Unless you are her MANAGER, keep your mouth shut. This has sexual harassment written all over it.

It's the News Director's responsibility to tell her anything about her appearance. Bring your concerns up to him/her and let him/her handle it.

If you ARE the ND, I would recommend sitting her down in your office and point-blank stating that regardless of her career aspirations (on-air or off-air), her dress is inappropriate for any professional setting. And even if she were an UNPAID intern (which the vast majority of us at one time were), conservative "dress" clothes cost no more (and in many cases cost substantially less) than slut clothes.

She doesn't need to be decked out in Chanel and Prada. Simple blouses and skirts (or slacks) with a nice pair of black or brown pumps are NOT expensive at all.

Good luck.

[The Mockingbird]

If she's hot, I bet it's a LOT easier for her to get interviews with some public officials, interview or no.

[wxcookie]

I don't think that you are the right one to talk to her about it because of all the sexual harassment issues going on right now. Ask one of the female reporters or anchors to do it and have them use their personal career hike as an example. They should just let her know that people are starting to talk and no one is going to take her seriously until she covers up.
But sadly, there are some (many) stations that are looking for young, cheap, hoooot talent, so maybe she can squeeze in at one of those stations.
Finally, just because you are broke doesn't mean you have to dress like a tramp.

[overthehill]

There are quite a few young female interns who don't seem to understand what "dress professionally" means. It happens in lots of newsrooms, at the networks, cable systems, etc. especially during the summer.

We should not expect a college intern to dress like an anchor or perhaps even like a reporter for a summer internship. However, they certainly shouldn't dress as if they're headed to the college bar for a Friday night of hooking up either.

Yes, it's the responsibility of the ND to tell these young women that what they've been wearing is just not professional.

[Produce man]

Definitely keep your mouth shut and enjoy the view.

[TVMattNYC]

Definitely keep your mouth shut and enjoy the view.

Uh ... yuck.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

I would recommend sitting her down in your office...

Oh, I'll sit her down alright...on my CROTCH!!!

[TVMattNYC]

Oh, I'll sit her down alright...on my CROTCH!!!

Silly clown.

She's most likely into STRAIGHT men.

[Produce man]

Silly clown.

She's most likely into STRAIGHT men.Post of the day!!:worship:

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Silly clown.

She's most likely into STRAIGHT men.

Pot - kettle - black.

[TVMattNYC]

Pot - kettle - black.

We ARE two of a kind, aren't we Clownie?

[Mighty Dyckerson]

We ARE two of a kind, aren't we Clownie?

Nope. I would never live in New York City.

[Produce man]

We ARE two of a kind, aren't we Clownie?Bwahahahahaha! Make it stop! My sides are hurting!!

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Bwahahahahaha! Make it stop! My sides are hurting!!

Put a sock in it, bird brain.

[Gail sirens]

That kind of attire is seen all over the airwaves.
It's not professional, but it passes for what young female reporters now wear.
"Au courant."
Part of the dumbing down process.

[Another OMB]

Some additional information might help with the advice. She and I are both in a bureau about 100 miles from the main station, so the ND never sees or talks with the intern.

The sexual harassment accusation potential definitely has me concerned, and that's one of the reasons I don't know how, or whether, to bring the subject up.

This is a 9-month paid full-time internship. The hope of the company is that they'll have new talent already in the pipeline who knows how we do things. The hope of the intern is to get a full-time permanent job at one of the other stations owned by our corporation.

My inclination is to not say anything and let the news director who hires her, if one does, deal with it. The only reason I thought about mentioning it in the first place is because I'm trying to teach her everything I can that she'll need to know to be successful in this business, and her clothing is definitely not what it needs to be.

[Write2Video]

This is for the women out there on air, or who work with those who are. I have an intern who works with me who is hoping to get a job as a reporter and she eventually wants to be an anchor. In her capacity now, she's not seen on air, but she's meeting with state officials, going to the Statehouse, conducting interviews, etc.

Here's the dilemma: a lot of what she wears is inappropriate for on-air or even for a professional setting. I'm talking about blouses or dresses that are very low cut, mini-skirts, extremely tight jeans, that kind of thing.

I have two questions:
1. What would be the best way to bring up the subject with her? As a man, my first inclination is the direct approach. But telling her, "Look, I know you want to be a reporter or anchor, but you dress kinda sleazy. So if you want to make it on-air, you need to change your wardrobe" probably isn't the best approach.

2. What guidelines should I tell her as far as what she should and should not wear? I'm guessing if I bring it up, she may say something along the lines of "What's wrong with what I wear now?"

There's also the problem of cost. She is a paid intern, but having just graduated from college and having student loans and car problems, I know she doesn't have much to spend on new clothes.

Come on, man! You know you like to sneek a peek when no one's looking...haha.

[Spike]

Being back in school, I have noticed that the kids often come into school without knowing how to dress, then learn it along the way. However, I'm in business school, where the career services office conducts seminars and publishes pamphlets on professional dress (and even business casual dress), and the instructors routinely require students to make presentations in which appearance is part of the grade. Professional appearance is stressed, and they make a point of explicitly stating seemingly silly things that you might assume everyone should know (like "don't wear white socks" or "don't wear a t-shirt with a logo under a white dress shirt" and even "low cut tops showing cleavage are inappropriate"). Many of the instructors wear suits, and the ones who don't usually dress business casual.

Back in film and tv school, however, appearance was rarely discussed, and in fact more casual attire was encouraged. I had to appear in videos, and attire was never mentioned. The instructors dressed like students themselves, in jeans and t-shirts, and even shorts. Even though presenters are supposed to appear professional, for the most part television is a casual business, and instructors tend to have a casual approach to it.

In other words, this girl probably doesn't know how to dress because nobody ever brought it up in school.

I think you can bring it up without raising the sexual harassment spectre if you just don't mention anything about her clothes being slutty or revealing. Just mention that reporters need to dress like professionals, in conservative business attire, and that you need to dress like the job you want rather than the job you have. She's dressing like an intern. If she wants to report, she needs to dress like a reporter.

To help her with that, I would suggest searching the net and printing off a guide to professional dress for women for her to read. Usually these guides will mention explicitly that revealing clothes are unprofessional. If you tell her that she needs to dress professionally, then give her a guide that mentions revealing attire, she may put two and two together without you ever having to mention cleavage or legs. I just searched for "professional attire" (http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=%22professional+attire%22&btnG=Search) on Google and got 108,000 hits, so there's almost certainly something there you can use.

When I worked in DC I was continually amazed at what the Capitol interns wore. You would think that a young woman would realize that working at the seat of government would require conservative attire, but every spring and summer we'd get a new crop of little sluts in short, tight skirts with their tits practically popping out of their blouses. Their schools just aren't teaching them what's appropriate.

[TVMattNYC]

Some additional information might help with the advice. She and I are both in a bureau about 100 miles from the main station, so the ND never sees or talks with the intern.

The sexual harassment accusation potential definitely has me concerned, and that's one of the reasons I don't know how, or whether, to bring the subject up.

This is a 9-month paid full-time internship. The hope of the company is that they'll have new talent already in the pipeline who knows how we do things. The hope of the intern is to get a full-time permanent job at one of the other stations owned by our corporation.

My inclination is to not say anything and let the news director who hires her, if one does, deal with it. The only reason I thought about mentioning it in the first place is because I'm trying to teach her everything I can that she'll need to know to be successful in this business, and her clothing is definitely not what it needs to be.

Dude, you need to introduce her to your best gay friend. HE'LL tell her to her face.

[Another OMB]

Dude, you need to introduce her to your best gay friend. HE'LL tell her to her face.

ROAD TRIP! Oh, wait. Are you willing to leave New York?

[TVMattNYC]

ROAD TRIP! Oh, wait. Are you willing to leave New York?

Depends. Where are you?

[Roy Hobbs]

Okay you two, don't go tapping on the middle of the stall floor.

Besides I'm more qualified as I usually get stuck as the Straight Male Gay Friend, the guy women love to confide in but never seriously date. Take Archie for example:
http://mightygodking.com/images/ronnieandthegays.jpg

Note the long, flowing hair...Hey look it's Sandbagger! :cheers:

[hoosiergirl]

This wasn't an intern but a college girl who came in to job shadow and looked like a hooker. People about died and were embarrassed to take her on the story. Since I set up the job shadow, I handled it and what I did was talk to one of her college advisors and let them take it from there. That got it out of my newsroom. We told him she could come back once she got the clothing situation handled, but we never heard from her again.

[ZuZu's Petals]

I am embarrassed to say that I was one of those interns.

It was sheer ignorance.
I was paid to come in and edit video for the 10pm - after school. So I mistakenly treated it like a part-time job. In the hot summer months I wore shorts and t-shirts, whatever I wore to school that day (summer sessions... hot and humid weather, riding your bike to school) the rest of the year I think I was appropriately dressed.

One reporter pulled me aside and told me - by way of example - how when she was an intern she made sure to dress professionally. If I remember correctly, I think I even dismissed her because 1)she was a very conservative type 2) I figured it was a part-time job and 3) I couldn't afford suits and that sort of thing. (nowadays you don't even have to buy a suit... nice pants and a button down top can be sufficient. In my day it was all huge shoulder pads!!)

It did sink in eventually - and now I cringe when I see other girls making that mistake.

Now - for our original poster - and I don't know if this is appropriate - can you take her out to dinner with you and your girlfriend/wife and let her mention it casually... sort of like my reporter example? "Is that what you wore to work today? Really? I'm surprised. I know that as a reporter my husband has to dress professionally, even if he's shooting a story in a National Park." "You know, the department store is having a great sale this weekend. Want to go scout some clearance racks with me on Saturday?"

Is there any way some of the sources you meet with and trust... like a female DA or other professional who can seriptitiously bring up work related topics?

You are in a tough spot being the only one in the bureau and a man. I encourage you for seeking advice.

[adam & doctor drew]

seriously, who knows WHAT's even acceptable anymore?

I counted 7 different young women (all mid-to-late 20s) today in our newsroom (not reporters, just PA/writer/editor/office types) who all had varying degrees of ample cleavage and other skin (bellybutton, back, etc) showing.
EVERY one of them.

maybe this is just how young women dress today.

women, your thoughts?

[TVMattNYC]

This wasn't an intern but a college girl who came in to job shadow and looked like a hooker. People about died and were embarrassed to take her on the story.

"People" need to grow some balls say something.

I did.

When I was a local radio reporter, the station tried to send me out on a story with an anchorette hopeful who was dressed in spray-on slut clothes. I took one look at her and said "Absolutely not, I'm not taking you into court looking like that."

She stayed in that day.

The next day ... and every day thereafter, she was dressed at least *closer* to appropriate.

[pass the java]

Also dress like they're about to go clubbing. The male photographers love it.. everyone else just rolls their eyes.

[Rambunctious]

An intern willing to become a reporter before going to the anchor desk... you have a rare one there. :rolleyes:


On a cereal note... are you sure it's inappropriate or just uncomfortable for you? Every time I visit the mall or shoot in a school I realize I have no concept what is acceptable anymore.

Try observing how other people react to her. Do you sense they are uncomfortable? Is it causing a problem in getting the job done? Make sure this isn't just an issue for you before you say something.

Maybe you could post several pictures of her in some of these skanky outfits so we can get a better feel for what you are going through.
:D

[ZuZu's Petals]

I think it has changed in terms of younger women think is acceptable.
Now a days they all dress as if they are going clubbing.
(I admitted to stupid dressing in my younger years - but it wasn't sexy - it was just shorts and a t-shirt. Inappropriate for work, yes. Inappropriate for standards of respect as a human being, no.)

Recently, I worked at a production company where we had a lot of interns and a lot of young college graduates. And while the dress was indeed casual - guys wore the same funny t-shirts and jeans they would wear to a bar - Most of us wore capri pants, jeans and cute tops --- but the young women were totally inappropriate.

One day I encountered a couple young ones in the ladies room - clingy little tops so bare you couldn't conceal parts of a bra if you wanted to (BTW - what's up with that? Girls today see no obligation to hide bra straps anymore. I blame Carrie Bradshaw.) At first I thought... I'm always freakishly cold in this office - carrying a sweater with me all the time - how can they not be chilly wearing those clothes? Then it dawned on me - that's why they're always nipping out. Ew.

I almost said, "Oh, you girls must be going to LoDo right after work?"
But decided it wasn't my place to do so.

I was overjoyed the next day when HR sent a mass email stating appropriate dress policy. You could almost hear cheering among the over 30 crowd as everyone opened their inbox!

[Focker]

Uh ... yuck.

We ARE two of a kind, aren't we Clownie?

First off, Matt, are you saying you're gay or black? Or both? Not that it matters much, but just trying to figure out the insult you're trying to dish on Dyck. I always thought you were just a regular uppity non-news New York-aholic who thinks the world ends south of NYC, North of Clinton county and west of Erie county. But I digress.

Second, to the OP, I'd say if you're not the ND, talk to the ND and have him/her talk to this intern. I agree kids today don't know what it means to be/dress professional. Of course, if you're in web design or something and you sit in front of your computer at home all day, that's another thing.

Also, she needs a good talking so that us male reporters don't get shut out from interviews because we don't dress slutty. When I worked in the Sunflower State my direct competition was a leggy blonde who ALWAYS dressed in short skirts and low-cut blouses. No wonder the cops talked to her more than anyone else...

[OntheRebound]

If you have a written policy you could just give it to her and say nothing else and see if she gets the hint.

I also wanted to pose this question to those of you who are parents on the forum, especially of teenagers: Do you talk to your kids about there being a time and place for certain things, especially dress? I'm just wondering because that's how I knew what to wear and when once I became an adult.

I get the feeling at the ripe old age of 30, that no one does this anymore. It wasn't until I went to college that I met people who did not own suits, dress shoes or anything other than casual attire. Growing up I always wore nice dresses and hose to church and had dress clothes and shoes. And we certainly were not rich.

Before my first job interview at an amusement park, my mom stopped me at the door when I tried to leave in a fairly conservative shorts set by today's standard and made me put on slacks and nice blouse. She said even if I would be working outside and wearing the company's casual uniform; I should make a certain impression at the interview. While in college my dad and some professional mentors impressed upon me that one should dress for the job you want--not the one you have.

I was the only intern who wore slacks/skirts and blouses every day as a result. It made an impression on the general manager who commented on it to me and then made sure to tell the news director to offer me a "foot in the door" position when I graduated.

On another note, while judging from the styles I saw in the mall last week, "hooker chic" is all the rage; I also think a lot of young girls in this business have figured out that dressing provocatively gets you bosses who look the other way at your incompetence and or laziness; photogs who will do all the work for you; and police and firemen who give you tips and the interviews. Frankly, there's few advantages in the workplace for women who dress professionally these days IMHO.

[Spike]

I also think a lot of young girls in this business have figured out that dressing provocatively gets you bosses who look the other way at your incompetence and or laziness; photogs who will do all the work for you; and police and firemen who give you tips and the interviews. Frankly, there's few advantages in the workplace for women who dress professionally these days IMHO.

You know what would solve that? If men were allowed to call women who dressed in slutty clothing "Tits."

You know, when she shows up in a revealing outfit, the ND could say, "Good morning, Tits!"

When she interviews the fire chief, he could say, "Well, Tits, this new equipment will allows us to respond to fires faster."

When she asks for a certain shot for her story, the photog could say, "Sure thing, Tits. Anything for you."

And then when Tits complains, the women who understand how to dress professionally would have to back us up and say, "Well you DO dress like a whore."

I guarantee you that if the guys were not so heavily penalized for calling such women "Tits," the women who wanted to be respected would stop dressing that way around them.

[Focker]

You know what would solve that? If men were allowed to call women who dressed in slutty clothing "Tits."

You know, when she shows up in a revealing outfit, the ND could say, "Good morning, Tits!"

When she interviews the fire chief, he could say, "Well, Tits, this new equipment will allows us to respond to fires faster."

When she asks for a certain shot for her story, the photog could say, "Sure thing, Tits. Anything for you."

And then when Tits complains, the women who understand how to dress professionally would have to back us up and say, "Well you DO dress like a whore."

I guarantee you that if the guys were not so heavily penalized for calling such women "Tits," the women who wanted to be respected would stop dressing that way around them.

:worship:

Actually, I think it's B.S. that women can get away dressing "casually" at work (skirts, short pants just below the knees, sandals), while us men have either khakis or slacks (maybe nice jeans). It's crap.

[Spike]

Actually, I think it's B.S. that women can get away dressing "casually" at work (skirts, short pants just below the knees, sandals), while us men have either khakis or slacks (maybe nice jeans). It's crap.

Not me. I don't want to look around the office and see men wearing slutty clothes.

[TVMattNYC]

First off, Matt, are you saying you're gay or black? Or both? Not that it matters much, but just trying to figure out the insult you're trying to dish on Dyck. I always thought you were just a regular uppity non-news New York-aholic who thinks the world ends south of NYC, North of Clinton county and west of Erie county.

I'm gay.

Also, since I recently discovered that I can trace a distant relative to the African continent 13 generations back, I have embraced my African heritage and now consider myself an "African-American", freely accepting all the rights and privileges thereof.

But I digress.

As an African-American, I take offense to your "uppity" comment, and consider it a racial slur.

I know not of either Clinton or Erie Counties ... but I do believe that the civilized world *pauses* at the Hudson River and *resumes* west of the San Bernadino Valley.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Also, since I recently discovered that I can trace a distant relative to the African continent 13 generations back, I have embraced my African heritage and now consider myself an "African-American", freely accepting all the rights and privileges thereof.

You have GOT to be kidding. Next you'll be telling us you're converting to Judaism just for the jokes.

[TVMattNYC]

You have GOT to be kidding. Next you'll be telling us you're converting to Judaism just for the jokes.

How dare you question my African-Americanism.

[Laughing Angel]

I believe you, my brotha...

[3.58 mHZ]

Money Does Not Have To Be An Issue . . . . Why can't an intern visit the local consignment shop or Goodwill . . . there are perfectly stylish appropriate clothes to be found in such places making funds No Longer An Issue. There's more than one way to pay dues . . . . and a few previously worn, professional looking items might pave the way.

IS the simplest answer always undesirable?

:frustrated: