Studio SPJ with Jennifer Livingston

Wisconsin television anchor/reporter Jennifer Livingston made headlines of her own in October went she responded on air to a viewer who criticized her as being overweight.

 

The incident sparked a national discussion about obesity, self-esteem and bullying.

 

It also put Livingston in the unusual position of being part of the news rather than the person reporting it. 

 

Now that a few months have passed, Livington has agreed to be our guest on Studio SPJ.

 

The half-hour conversation, hosted by the Milwaukee chapter of SPJ, will air live on Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. Eastern.

 

A graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, Livingston started in 1997 as a general assignment reporter for WKBT in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

 

The viewer sent an email to Livingston telling her to "reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle."

 

Livingston responded with a 4-minute on-air segment in which she acknowledged being  overweight but said the viewer's words were cruel.

 

She went on to say: "To all the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling with your weight, your sexual preference, your disability, even the acne on your face, listen to me right now: do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies."

 

A YouTube clip of Livingston's remarks has drawn more than 10.5 million views. The incident also lead to Livingston making an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show.