News With Curves: Chapter 1

The scene unfolding before Rachel Fontaine was unreal. Yes, she had been around newsrooms all her adult life, starting as an intern while in high school, then all during college. When she graduated with a degree in Journalism five years ago, she knew the news desk was hers to conquer. ‘One day I will be the reporter covering the White House,’ she would tell all her friends. Yet, here she sat on the outside of the production table listening to the same boring submission of stories the so called investigative reporters were presenting to the General Manager. After two years as a production assistant, Rachel asked the General Manager, Jerry Levine, about a place at the table. His words were “You have to pay your dues first.” She understood that and it worked until Lisa Cahill arrived and was immediately placed at the table as weekend anchor. The woman had less experience, actually none at all, a degree in Art History, but her trump card was her last name. When Rachel met with Jerry about the placement of Lisa, he gave her a promotion to researcher and a raise.

Rachel enjoyed research, digging in and finding the truth behind a story. She had a real knack for details. When she presented her findings, not a stone was left unturned. It was her breaking stories that brought attention to the Cahill Broadcasting Network news group. Rachel was proud of her work until a year later, when Lisa was moved to evening anchor. This was her chance, Rachel thought, the weekend anchor position was open again. She would get a chance at that position. It was a natural progression since she and Lisa worked closely together. By close that meant Rachel feeding Lisa the stories line by line. Yes, this would be her chance. Lisa even indicated she would talk to Jerry about giving Rachel a shot. It was not to be. Juan Santos, a tall handsome Latino with perfect teeth was placed as the weekend anchor. After this slight, Rachel decided anchor was not in the future for her and began concentrating on investigative reporting. For the last two years she had been doing the investigations and yet again, she found herself feeding the stories to others to report. Today, she was standing up for herself. After five years of making everyone else shine, it was her time…

“You can do this,” Ken, one of the road cameraman and a friend, encouraged.

“Yes, you can.” Her co-worker and production assistant, Betty Ann Stansfield nodded. “You look good in your navy suit and that crisp white blouse. And who knew you had the legs of death,” she added with a smile.

“Jerry would be crazy not to give you a shot with this story.” Ken nodded. “If he asks who you want to handle camera, don’t forget yours truly.”

Rachel smiled, not feeling as convinced on the inside as she looked on the outside, but she was going for it. “Here goes nothing.” She exhaled and walked towards Jerry’s office.

“You got this,” Betty Ann called out.

Rachel looked over her shoulder as she put one foot in front of the other towards her future.

After giving Jerry the run down on the story, the outcome was the same.

“Bring Lisa up to date on the facts,” Jerry, the General Manager, replied.

“Jerry,” Rachel pleaded. “I know this story inside out. I put in a lot of time and research to get to the truth behind the embezzlement of government funds.  Let me report the story.”

“Rachel, we’ve had this discussion before. We have our on-air talent. You pay your dues and you will get your chance. Now is just not the time.”

“You said that a year ago, Jerry. I’ve broken several major stories since then, hell, you received the National Newsman Award because of the money laundering story and Lisa received the Anchor’s Award, while all I received was a single mention with every other person in the newsroom. I’ve proven my abilities time and time again. Give me a shot. Let me do this story.” 

“Damn it, Rachel. I, is all I’m hearing from you. Part of your problem is you don’t get the fact that we work as a team. A team,” he emphasized. “We pay you top dollar around here for the work you do. Yet all I’m hearing is bitching from you.”

Rachel became defensive. She hadn’t approached him in a negative manner. She had not raised her voice, nor had she cursed at him…yet. All she did was ask to be given a chance.

“I’m not bitching, Jerry.” There was a bit of a strong emphasis on the word bitching. “All I’m asking is for you to honor your word.”

“I don’t have time for this, Rachel. I’ve got the producers chewing my ass off because of budget issues. You want to know whose salary they throw in my face every time we have a meeting? Yours. And this is the gratitude I get from you.” He slammed his pen  on the desk. “Brief Lisa on the facts and be grateful you still have a job.”

Rachel stared at Jerry for a long moment before she stood and spoke softly. “For five years, I’ve given you ground breaking stories. I’ve watched reporters come and go, but I stayed out of loyalty to you and Cahill Broadcasting. As soon as I find a network who will be willing to give a woman of color a chance, I will be leaving.”

“Then you won’t be going anywhere.” He sat up. “It’s not the color of your skin that’s keeping you off the air.” He picked up his pen. “Grow up, Rachel.”

“I’m sorry, Jerry, but I must be missing something.”

He looked up. “You really don’t get it?”

Rachel folded her arms across her chest. “No, Jerry. Why don’t you enlighten me?”

Jerry sat back and sighed. “Rachel, look, I have a meeting with the owner and some executives they are bringing through. I don’t want to get into this right now.”

“I’m afraid you are going to have to. What is the problem? If it’s not the color of my skin, what is it? It can’t be my grammar. I speak better than you most of the time. So what is it Jerry? I’m a big girl, I can take it.”

“That’s just it, Rachel. You’re a big girl. Big girls don’t bring ratings. Your on camera appearance will make you larger than what you are. Everyone knows the camera puts 10 pounds on your body. The people in front of the camera have to be appealing. The kind the guys dream about at night and the women want to be. You do not have that look.”

Rachel looked down at herself. She was a thick sister. The curves were all in the right places. She worked out regularly and ran three times a week.  Looking up at him with those piercing dark brown eyes, her shoulder length hair, and make up that looked as natural as the trees against the blue sky, she did not hide her anger. 

“Look, personally, I like my women curvy.  And there is no denying you are a pretty woman, but you are not on screen material. You are good…damn good at investigations and I have no doubt you would be a good reporter. But no one is going to put you in front of a camera. Your size will distract from the stories.”

Seething through her teeth, Rachel spoke. “I am a size 12, Jerry. That is the average size of women.”

“That may be. But what people want to see on their television screen is not themselves. They want to see what they desire to be. You show them who they are.” Jerry looked over her shoulder through the glass door. “The owners are here.  Don’t screw me on this, Rachel. Brief Lisa on the story and get back to work.”

Anger was blinding Rachel as she turned away from the open office door. “My ass is too big to screw with the likes of you.”