TV News Personalities: Prepare to be Pinked
Female TV news personalities in Washington aren’t as vindictive and cutting as other cities. Sure, they’re fiercely competitive when it comes to breaking stories. But each year they come together to socialize and raise money for a worthy cause and, in the process, submit themselves to being called “newsbabes.” This year’s cause: breast cancer.
The women first powwowed at the suggestion of then-ABC7 anchor Kathleen Matthews who got FOX’s Laura Evans and WUSA’s Andrea Roane to walk the catwalk for the American Heart Association. When they began four years ago, Evans wasn’t thrilled with the name “newsbabes” Newsbabes? Who wants to be called that? The originals were Evans, NBC Washington’s Angie Goff (who has valiantly shopped for bras on air), Roane, FOX’s Sue Palka, and WUSA’s Anita Brikman. As the years wore on, Evans gave in and now shrugs it off. “I wasn’t a huge fan of the name newsbabes,” she says, “but I’ve gotten over it. It’s tongue-in-cheek and I need to loosen up a little.”
Evans says it’s all about giving back. “It doesn’t discriminate,” she said of breast cancer, noting a close friend who was diagnosed with it last year. “So we all need to help each other out.”
The bash is tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Howard Theatre where NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell, who announced her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year, will be the guest of honor and will share her own experience. This year’s event raises funds for George Washington University’s Mammovan, which brings services to women can’t otherwise afford them.
This year they’re breaking tradition and letting men in. They’re calling them “Newsmen in Pink.” A sampling: NBC’s Luke Russert (we heard he looks pretty snazzy in pink), CNN’s Peter Hamby and NBCs Peter Alexander. FNC is pulling out all the stops with Bret Baier, Ed Henry, Peter Doocy and Juan Williams.
The newsbabes who will be attending: Brikman, Pamela Brown, Rebecca Cooper, Evans, Doreen Gentzler, Jennifer Griffin, Lesli Foster, Goff, Hillary Holward, Megan Hughes, Brianna Keilar, Britt McHenry, Palka, Roane, Cynné Simpson, Alison Starling, Shawn Yancy and Eun Yang.
Purchasing tickets: Tickets will be available at the door tonight for $75 at The Howard Theatre, 620 T Street NW. The fare will naturally include a pink dessert bar put together by Georgetown Cupcake, Dolci Gelati and Sweet Signatures.
