2012 Honoree

Dari Alexander

Anchor, “Fox 5 News at 5 p.m.” and “Fox 5 News at 10 p.m.”

“The media has come a long way in how it portrays women. As we see more and more women leading corporations and holding political office, the media has made great efforts to show the enormous contributions women have made to society. That said, there is always room for improvement.”

What do you think of the media’s portrayal of women?

The media has come a long way in how it portrays women. As we see more and more women leading corporations and holding political office, the media has made great efforts to show the enormous contributions women have made to society. That said, there is always room for improvement.

Have you seen any changes in the political landscape for women over the past few years? What are they?

Of course. There was a time when women only dreamed of seeing one of their own in the White House. Now, it’s inevitable; in fact, it will happen in the very near future, and everybody knows it, and seems to be comfortable with the idea. That’s real progress.

Can you tell us about one of the biggest challenges in your life that you think helped you become the person you are today?

I was bullied terribly in high school. It was a defining moment that, without a doubt, prepared me for everything that I face today. I would never invite it on anyone, but when you survive it, you learn that nobody will ever break you again. You truly appreciate the value of yourself, and understand bullies actually hate themselves, and, therefore, find it easier to torment than to look inside and correct their own ills.

Do today’s young people face a bigger challenge than you did?

Yes and no. Obviously, with tough economic times, finding a job has been incredibly tough for today’s young people–much tougher than when I was looking for a job. But, what I see now is an incredible opportunity to think out of the box thanks to the internet and social media. There is a great opportunity to create something of your own, as opposed to working for somebody else.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

It has to be to know how to handle failure–to see the beauty in it (which is hard), but it teaches you how to deal with reality.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the original progressive. The wife of FDR, broke ground on race relations, women’s rights, and international diplomacy. I would like to know what she thinks we should do now in such unstable times.