| ✈️ Next time you fly, be sure to say "hi" to Nellie Bly. She's the Pittsburgh-native trailblazing journalist, feminist, traveler, and philanthropist most well known for her 1889 trip around the world in 72 days — it was her attempt to break the faux record in Jules Verne's novel, "Around the World in Eighty Days" and prove that a women can be adventurers too. Yesterday would have been Nellie's 158th birthday, and the community gathered to celebrate with a dedication to her statue at the Pittsburgh International Airport, right next to Franco Harris. She may be famed for her travels, but she got her start as a journalist right here in the 'Burgh. In 1885, she picked up a Pittsburgh newspaper and was horrified by a column she read titled "What Girls Are Good For." Needless to say, it was misogynistic, and Nellie had lots of thoughts. She wrote a response under a pseudonym, and it caught the attention of the editor. He put out an ad in the newspaper to find her so he could offer her a job. That was the beginning of her stint as a writer for the Pittsburgh Dispatch where she worked for $5 a week. Nellie made a profound impact on journalism and opened up a world of possibilities for women. She had the courage to tell stories that mattered and wrote about truths that shocked the public: dangerous conditions for women working in factories, abuses in mental health facilities, child labor, and divorce. As President of the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh, I was honored to join CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Heinz History Center Andy Masich, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to share remarks on Nellie's impact on women and journalism at the event. A lot of people might not know that Pittsburgh has the second oldest women's press club in the nation. That's all thanks to the team of women in 1891 who stood up, together to tell stories at a time when they weren't even welcome to have a byline. Those women, undeniably, were inspired by and followed in the footsteps of Nellie. While Nellie Bly left Pittsburgh for New York before the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh was organized, the club celebrated its 130th anniversary last year by inducting Nellie as an honorary member and recognizing her as a crusader for women journalists everywhere… and especially in Pittsburgh. 📣 If you're a media professional looking for a network, consider joining the club. We're always looking for new members. And you don't have to be a woman either — we welcome all gender identities! | 
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