INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Title IX, written by Indiana’s own Senator Birch Bayh, was signed into law in 1972. That same year marked the debut of a young, up-and-coming reporter, persistent and hungry for a job covering her hometown.

In 1972, Jane Pauley started out here at WISH-TV. In our 70-year history, she’s probably the biggest name to come out of WISH-TV.

In 2004, Jane Pauley reunited with Mike Ahern for our 50th anniversary. They reflected on how perceptions had changed in that half-century. Women had been on air, such as Kay Fields, the “Weather Girl,” but there weren’t that many, especially on the anchor desk.

“In television, there’s a phrase called ‘The Second Wave,’ or the Class of ’72, defining the women who arrived in television about the time I did because the FCC strongly encouraged, holding license renewals hostage, more diversity, including women,” said Pauley during her interview with Mike Ahern.

For longtime anchor Debby Knox, Jane Pauley was someone to look up to. “So it was like, you know, she was cool,” said Knox.

“The sisterhood now is a little more real for me because back when you’re starting out, you’re just starting out, you’re trying to scratch your way,” said Knox.

Pam Elliot was first hired on to WISH-TV in 1992 as Christmas relief. On General Assignment, she covered a slew of topics from IndyCar to crime scenes, not just what’s going on at the grocery store and matters of the home.

“I can go back to the days where it was male-dominated,” Elliot said. “I think it’s people that went before me and showed the world that women were quite capable. They didn’t need to be categorized or to be put on a certain story list. That they could do all sorts of things and yet retain their femineity.”

At the end of that 2004 interview, a representative of Mayor Bart Peterson surprised Jane Pauley for being a credit to the city and a credit to the profession.

Web Extras

Anchor Mike Ahern interviews Jane Pauley

On May 28, 2004, anchor Mike Ahern conducted an interview with Jane Pauley in celebration of WISH-TV’s 50th anniversary.