Pat Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Mitchell
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Mitchell in 2002
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| Born | January 20, 1943 Swainsboro, Georgia, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Georgia BA, MA |
| Occupation | Global media businesswoman |
| Spouse(s) | Scott Seydel |
| Children | 6 |
Pat Mitchell (born January 20, 1943) is a very successful media executive. She made history as the first woman to be the president and CEO of PBS, a well-known public television network. Today, she is the editorial director for TEDWomen, a special conference that celebrates the power of women and girls.
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Early Life and Education
Pat Mitchell grew up in the United States. She went to the University of Georgia. There, she earned two degrees in English literature. She even received a scholarship for drama to help her attend college.
A Career in Media
Pat Mitchell started her career teaching English at universities. One day, an article she wrote caught the eye of a magazine editor. This led her into the world of journalism.
From Reporter to Talk Show Host
In 1971, Pat Mitchell began working in television. She started as a reporter at a TV station in Boston. Over the next 30 years, she worked in many different roles. She was a news reporter and even a news anchor. She also hosted national talk shows. For a time, she was a White House correspondent, reporting on the President.
She also created and produced many TV shows and documentaries. A lot of these shows focused on women's stories. In 1978, she co-hosted a daily talk show called America Alive! She also co-hosted a prime-time show based on People magazine.
Making History with Woman to Woman
In the mid-1980s, Pat Mitchell decided to start her own company. She wanted to create a TV show called Woman to Woman. This show was special because it was the first national program produced and hosted by a woman. It was so important that it became the first TV series added to a special library about women's history.
Leading PBS and TEDWomen
In 1992, Pat Mitchell worked with Ted Turner to create a documentary series. This series was about the history of women in America. It was called A Century of Women and was nominated for three Emmy awards.
In 2000, Pat Mitchell became the first woman president and CEO of PBS. She led PBS until 2006. After that, she became the president and CEO of the Paley Center for Media. This is a cultural place in New York that celebrates media.
In 2010, Pat Mitchell started TEDWomen. This is an annual conference that is part of TED Talks. She became its main director and host. The conference focuses on how women and girls can be creators and make a difference. Famous speakers like Hillary Clinton and Sheryl Sandberg have spoken there.
In 2022, Pat Mitchell helped produce a documentary called Refuge. This film followed different people and a town of refugees in Georgia. As of 2021, she was also a leader for several important organizations. These include the Sundance Institute and the Women's Media Center.
Awards and Recognitions
Shows and documentaries that Pat Mitchell helped create have won many awards. They have received over 100 major awards. These include 41 Emmy Awards and seven Peabody Awards. She personally won a Prime-Time Emmy Award in 1996.
In 2008, Pat Mitchell was added to the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. She was also named one of the "Most Powerful Women in Hollywood." Fast Company magazine called her one of the "League of Extraordinary Women."
In 2012, the Women's Media Center gave her their first Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also received the Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Leadership. She was honored for her work in making society more fair for women. Pat Mitchell is also one of only 12 Americans to receive the Bodley Medal from Oxford University. She was chosen to help plan a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C.
Personal Life
Pat Mitchell and her husband, Scott Seydel, have six children. They also have 13 grandchildren. They live in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia.
