{"id":11751,"date":"2023-02-26T13:30:42","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T20:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tegnacorpstage.wpengine.com\/advertise\/?p=11751"},"modified":"2024-08-23T12:00:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T19:00:41","slug":"celebrating-womens-history-month-2023-trailblazer-georgia-davidson-leads-legacy-of-strong-female-leadership-at-tegnas-ktvb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tegna.com\/advertise\/womens-history-month-2023-georgia-davidson\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Women’s History Month 2023: Trailblazer Georgia Davidson Leads Legacy of Strong Female Leadership at TEGNA’s KTVB"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, many strong females are in leadership positions at TEGNA\u2019s <\/span>KTVB in Boise, Idaho<\/span><\/a>. Jessica Hagan is the station\u2019s president and general manager, former president and general manager Kate Morris, Kristi Edmunds is the Sales Director, Lisa Chavez is the content director, and Traci Liew is its Community Service Director – and <\/span>its<\/span> thanks, in part, to a legacy passed down from one very important trailblazer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her name is Georgia <\/span>Davidson<\/span>, and she made the early, brave, and risky decision to forge into the new world of television when she founded Idaho\u2019s first-ever <\/span>television station<\/span><\/a> – KIDO-TV – which first hit the airwaves on July 12, 1953. KIDO-TV later became KTVB in 1959. To celebrate Women\u2019s History Month 2023, we\u2019d like to tell you more about Georgia\u2019s story and how she became a trailblazer in the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Georgia Davidson Brought KTVB Boise to Life<\/b><\/h2>\n

In a male-dominated broadcast world, Davidson held her own. She was one of only three women to own a TV station in the NBC network – including her good friend, Dorothy Bullitt, who bought a TV station now known as <\/span>TEGNA\u2019s KING 5 in Seattle<\/span><\/a>. Davidson served as the station’s president until 1972 when she became chairman and CEO until the station was sold in 1980. Davidson was also the only woman among 120 men on the NBC Board of Affiliates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having a seat at the table has maybe become more common today \u2013 but it was unusual for those times, and it\u2019s certainly a point of pride for current female leaders at KTVB.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredible to work in a place started by a mom with two kids in the 1950s. She accomplished something unheard of for that time,\u201d says Chavez. \u201cI wish I could have met her. She seems like my kind of gal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One woman who was lucky enough to meet Davidson is <\/span>Kristi<\/span> Edmunds, current Director of Sales at KTVB. She highly regards Davidson based on her personal experience with the trailblazer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked at KTVB in 1976 when Georgia was still coming into the office,\u201d Edmunds recalls. \u201cShe always was encouraging and had great foresight about this industry of ours. While she may have been slight in build \u2013 she was mighty in the vision she shared, resulting in one of the most dominant, successful legacy stations in the state and country.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s Three Pillars of Success at KTVB Boise<\/b><\/h2>\n

Davidson\u2019s vision had three main pillars, starting with trustworthy journalism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne quote from her stated \u201cjournalists are rather precious people\u201d and she held our responsibility to our news product in high regard,\u201d recalls Edmunds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The other two pillars include doing the right thing for the community – and doing the right thing for her employees – a focus that continues today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKTVB\u2019s legacy of service to the community started many years ago \u2013 and our work is focused on generating amazing results for our clients and viewers,\u201d says Edmunds. \u201cGeorgia\u2019s legacy reminds us to continue innovation, embrace change \u2013 and persevere in taking those bold, pioneering steps forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For her employees, the same principles apply. As reported in the History of Idaho Broadcasting Foundation\u2019s newsletter in 2013, Davidson had an emergency fund to help employees who needed it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cApparently, she kept a slush fund of approximately $5,000, and when an employee had a bill they could not pay, or a medical or family emergency, Georgia wrote them a check \u2013 often for the entire amount, which helped them make it through their crisis. This may explain the extraordinary sense of loyalty many employees had for Georgia, which even continued with employees who had moved on to other jobs.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Davidson also paved the way for several female leaders to take the helm at KTVB, including three female general managers – <\/span>Hagan, Morris, <\/span>and <\/span>Davidson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping Georgia\u2019s Legacy Alive\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Davidson\u2019s impact is especially felt by Chavez too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor several years, the photos and articles on Georgia hung in a conference room weren\u2019t much more than pieces of history of KTVB for me,\u201d Chavez recalls. \u201cAs I\u2019ve had many mentors over the years point out my potential and encourage me to take leaps into higher and higher leadership roles, her story began to resonate with me as I saw other women excelling in top roles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, Chavez now helps to continue Davidson\u2019s legacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI began including the Georgia Davidson conference room in my tours with job candidates or anyone who wanted to look around \u2013 male or female,\u201d says Chavez. \u201cI spend a few minutes telling her story, showing her picture and the first station, then sharing how we continue the innovative culture and service to the community today with our mission statement on the other wall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a newspaper interview from 1978, Davidson was asked: \u201cWhat advice would you have for young people \u2013 especially young women \u2013 who want to get into the industry?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Georgia answered, \u201cI think it is one of the most rewarding industries anyone can enter. Partly because of a certain amount of inner satisfaction \u2013 even though you may get some criticism – and a certain amount of public credit you don\u2019t get in very many industries. You go through your days rather happily because of the variety in your work and that wonderful feeling that maybe you are doing something very constructive for your community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chavez sums up Davidson\u2019s legacy by saying, \u201cHer legacy absolutely impacts those of us here today. Our mission and our brand are the essences of what she started, and I am dedicated to continuing that legacy fiercely, protecting it, and giving opportunities to others to carry that spirit and blaze the next trail.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does This Mean for TEGNA\u2019s Advertising Partners?<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

TVB\u2019s 2023 Media Comparison Study<\/span><\/a> finds that consumers are increasing their trust in local news teams, especially as stations like KTVB carry on Davidson\u2019s legacy of strong journalism, strong female leadership, and community service. It\u2019s a reason so many viewers tune into KTVB for the local news and information they need – from weather, traffic, sports, and all the news in between. Reaching millions of viewers on-air and digitally, Davidson\u2019s legacy demonstrates just what it means when we at TEGNA say, \u201cbe in good company.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For advertisers that partner with local news stations to amplify their messages, whether via broadcast, streaming, or digital – the benefits are many, including:<\/span><\/p>\n