Veteran journalist Joan Lunden is revealing a troubling episode from the early days of her career. In her memoir Joan: Life Beyond the Script, she recounts how a television executive made advances toward her—and how her career shifted after she rejected him.
At the time, Lunden was working at WABC-TV in New York during the 1970s, still new to the television world. She says a boss invited her to what seemed like a professional gathering with colleagues, but it turned out to be a more private setting where his intentions went beyond work.
“I was embarrassed that I’d been so naive,” Lunden writes. “I was offended that a superior thought he could get away with this and assumed I would comply. I was also scared—there was no easy way out, especially on Fire Island at night.”
After she refused his advances, Lunden noticed a clear change in how she was treated. Her story ideas were blocked from airing, which not only affected her career but also her income, since reporters often earned extra pay for stories that ran. More importantly, she says it revealed the unequal treatment of women in the newsroom, which she identifies as both sexual harassment and discrimination.
Eventually, Lunden took action. Following advice from her agent and lawyer, she confronted the executive and warned him that she could pursue legal action if the behavior continued. Her stand worked—the harassment stopped, and they resumed a professional working relationship.
Lunden went on to build a highly successful career, co-hosting Good Morning America for 17 years and becoming a familiar face in television journalism. Looking back, she reflects on how challenging the workplace was for women starting out and continues to speak out to highlight both progress and the work still needed to achieve equality.
