SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–A dinner, program and special tribute to Gloria Penner for her ground-breaking contributions to the local media will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, as the Women’s History Museum of California celebrates San Diego’s “Broads of Broadcasting” (the women who broke through the barriers in the broadcast world of the 1970s). The event will take place at the McMillan Event Center, in Point Loma’s historic Liberty Station.
The fundraising event for the Women’s Museum will acknowledge the challenging and historical role of women broadcasters in San Diego. Several celebrity broadcasters will be on hand to share their stories and celebrate their journey. The evening’s events will also feature a much deserved tribute to Gloria Penner by her colleagues at KPBS and other organizations. The event will feature a silent auction for exclusive vacation experiences and packages as well as a special opportunity drawing for airline tickets, weekends at hotels and resorts, custom jewelry and cases of wine, of which ticket buyers do not have to be present to win.
Gloria Penner earned a master’s degree in English at Syracuse University and went on to teach English, along with a class in radio production. “I was hooked.” In the 1950s, she says, “I moved to San Francisco, got a job in radio, and began my love affair with broadcasting.” Gloria entered the profession during the Erica Jong era and was described as “a toughie” by colleagues. “In the 1970s,” she concedes, “I was a vigorous believer that women needed better representation in business and society. And I worked hard to make that happen. I doubt my demeanor resembled the TV-film stereotype of the obedient, dutiful babe in the background.”
Over the years at KPBS in various roles, Penner honed the interviewing skills that have earned her seven Emmys, five Golden Mikes, two Gracies, The San Diego Press Club’s Harold Keen Award for Excellence in Journalism, the John Swett Award from the California Teachers Association, and numerous honors from the Society of Professional Journalists and the San Diego Bar Association. In 2003, the League of Women Voters established an annual Gloria Penner Award for Civic Service. She was the first recipient.
Dinner tickets are $150 general. Group tickets are available at $500 for a group of 4. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 619-233-7963 or email at info@womensmuseumca.org. Prior to the dinner, honored guests will be invited to a VIP reception at the new Liberty Station location of the Women’s History Museum at 2370 Historic Decatur Rd., Barracks 16, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92106.
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Preceding provided by Women’s History Museum