In anticipation of our #OGGirlboss event taking place in Columbia, MO, we’ve rounded up 10 women who paved the way for the women of today to tell their stories.

by Anna Meyer

Art by Grace Molteni

This Friday, February 19th, The Riveter is hosting an event, #OGGirlbosses, in the Riveter’s hometown of Columbia, Missouri, at Yellow Dog Bookshop from 6-8 p.m. If browsing a bookstore with champagne and Harold’s Doughnuts in hand, hanging out with our team, and picking up a copy of Issue 3 and Issue 4 sounds like something you’d love, we’d be more than happy to see you there. But before we celebrate with throwback tunes and a photo booth, we want to celebrate the women who made what we do today all possible.

Nora Ephron

Nora’s list of occupations ranges from journalist, to screenwriter, to director, and so on. Her writing gave us some of our favorite romantic comedies, such as When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, and the Tribeca Film Festival honored the influential filmmaker by creating the Nora Ephron Prize. Since 2013, the prize has been awarded to “a woman writer or director with a distinctive voice who embodies the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer.”

Gail Sheehy

Her novel on how to understand the different life stages that men and women endure, Passages, held its place on The New York Times Bestseller List for more than 3 years. Her New York cover article in 1972, “The Secret of Grey Gardens”, brought forth a story that later inspired a film and Broadway musical. She wrote biographies on influential politicians, including Hillary Clinton. But the best part? She’s still going strong and just released her memoir, which she hopes “excite(s) today’s young women to dare.”

Oprah

Beyond being known as the woman who gave away free cars to her audience members, Oprah changed the way daytime television was presented and told stories that opened the hearts of audiences across the country. Her emotional interviews and the stories shared on her cream colored stage helped inspire a culture that valued empathy and understanding; all while building an empire that now includes a magazine and television network.

Lizz Winstead

As featured in Issue 4, Lizz co-created and served as head writer for The Daily Show, changing the way news was viewed in the mainstream. Using her comedic super powers for good, she also founded the reproductive rights nonprofit, Lady Parts Justice. To read all about her amazing accomplishments, read her featured story in Issue 4

Edna Buchanan

She used her experience as a police reporter to help write compelling crime novels, letting audiences in on nonfiction stories that dove deep into the extremes of what humans can do. Edna also sees journalism as a rewarding field. As she mentions on her website, “… now more than ever, I realize how lucky I was to be a journalist. There is something noble and exciting about venturing out every day to seek the truth.” To read more about Edna, check out her feature in Newswomen via our shop.

Joan Didion

Joan played a key role in the creation and rise of New Journalism and produced written work that was critical of the evolving world around her. Her arguably most famous novel, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, looks into her experiences in 1960s California, and serves as a crucial description of ’60s counterculture. Her new approach to journalism proved that emerging ways of narration should be encouraged.

Ann Curry

Ann has covered events ranging from devastating natural disasters, to hostile political situations, and it all began after interning with NBC after she graduated college in 1978. Her focus and dedication to humanitarian topics was followed by her confidence in tackling serious international topics. Her humble beginnings and rise to the top through hard work and dedicated storytelling sets an example for young women everywhere.

Nancy Drew

We first fell in love with Nancy’s daring personality and sense of adventure in grade school when we would check out as many Nancy Drew books the librarian would let us. Although she’s a fictitious character, other real life #OGGirlbosses read Nancy Drew mysteries as impressionable young girls. She even inspired a young Sandra Day O’Connor, who said she wanted to be Nancy Drew when she grew up after reading her books.

Lisa Ling

Lisa currently hosts This is Life on CNN, but has previously shared her opinions on The View, Our America, and Planet in Peril. She has displayed dedication to the journalism industry by risking it all when she went undercover for a documentary on North Korea, titled Inside North Korea. Teaming up with National Geographic Explorer, Lisa and her team captured an exclusive inside look at life in the mysterious country

Pam Oliver

Breaking into the sports journalism industry is no easy task, but Pam did it and emerged on the other side with experience in positions with ESPN, FOX Sports, and TNT. She serves as a fantastic role model for any young woman looking to break into the male-dominated filed of sports journalism.

 

 

Anna Meyer is The Riveter’s Editorial Brand Assistant. She is a Minneapolis native currently pursuing journalism and creative writing at the University of Kansas. She enjoys experimenting with charcoal drawing, plastic toy cameras, and she’s most likely waking up early for yoga this weekend. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Grace Molteni is a Midwest born and raised designer, illustrator, and self-proclaimed bibliophile, currently calling Chicago home. She believes strongly in a “beer first, always, and only” rule, and is forever seeking the perfect dumpling. For more musings, work, or just to say hey check her out on Instagram or at her personal website.