Speaker describes the challenges of women face in media

By Rob Vogt Local Press Writer

Growing up in Stavely where she was treated as an equal with males did not prepare Quinn Ohler for what awaited her in the “real world” of television news. Ohler, a television journalist with Global Edmonton, was one of the guest speakers at the Pink Tea put on by the Claresholm Public Library on Oct. 18. The event celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Persons Case, which declared women are persons in the eyes of the law. Ohler grew up six miles east of Stavely, where she was never treated differently from her male peers.

“I was allowed to speak my mind and I did a lot,” she said. Ohler drove tractor and combine, and more. “Never once did I ever think I was different because I was a girl,” she said.

Ohler also played sports and there was never a question about whether she was allowed to play. That changed at Lethbridge College where she pitched a story about a hockey player with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Ohler had coached hockey players in skating and her brother had actually played with this player she wanted to profile. Her instructor told her this was not a story for her, and there was a better one for her. When the story went to air it was read by a male counterpart, given to him by that same instructor he took it from Ohler. She brought this to the faculty head who not only told her she was over-reacting but that she had to grow a thicker skin.

Since then, Ohler has gone on to be a journalist for 11 years and worked on major stories including the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and the Fort McMurray fires. When she took over as lead female anchor the last few months at Global Edmonton, she did not expect the absolutely cruel things that would be said about her and to her. She proceeded to read word for word comments that attacked her personally, not the newscast she read.

“A lot of time it is women saying these things,” Ohler said. She decided to do a little experiment, looking back at the shows with the harshest critiques.

It turned out in every one she either corrected a male colleague, shared an opinion, or cracked a joke. If she agreed and said nothing, not a single thing was said to her or about her. She then asked the female anchor on maternity leave, the person she had been replacing, about this. That anchor had the exact same experience. Yet Ohler said she will not stop responding to hurtful comments, even though she has been counselled to ignore them.

“I’m not responding for my sake but for the next generation of female journalists,” she said. She took pride in the recent federal election leaders’ debate when all five moderators were female journalists. Ohler said she also takes pride in standing up for the little guy, working together, and other lessons she learned growing up in Stavely.

“I’m really proud of where I come from,” she said. Ohler described the charities she work with in Edmonton, where she can make a difference. “I come from a long line of remarkable women,” she concluded, women who would be disappointed if she did not be who she is. Ohler said the world needs journalists who check the facts, and she promised to uphold journalistic integrity.

“And make the community as proud as I can,” she said.