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He said, she said?


Wednesday, November 28, 2007


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

"Did I sound like a guy?" This was the question I immediately posed to a close colleague following my inaugural Webcast. (I just moderated my first Military & Aerospace Electronics Webcast.)

I'm typically more confident than self-conscious; yet, when it comes to my voice being broadcast, I have "baggage" (which I will now unload on you).

The year was 1990, and I was in my freshman year in college. My roommate and my best friend were Communications majors, who almost always turned to me for help with their audio projects. (Why not their VIDEO projects, come to think of it? Did I have a face for radio? Hmm.)

I read script after script for my friends, who recorded me for their projects and later played the tapes for their professors and classmates. The feedback was almost always the same: "That GUY sure has a strong Boston accent!"

Guy?! Argh! Thankfully, times have changed (even if my voice hasn't). Feminine reporters with deep voices -- like Diane Sawyer -- are sought after and hold prominent, public positions.

In the end, moderating the Webcast was a great experience, and why not? The well-versed speakers and inquisitive audience made it fun and informative -- and they made my job easy. I probably didn't sound like a man, anyway... Or did I?

You tell me! Download and listen to the archived "Embedded Computing Enables C4ISR" Webcast, which is posted in the Webcast archives on the Military & Aerospace Electronics Website at www.milaero.com. You'll hear what I'm talking about, and you can weigh in on the topic by posting a comment below.

Happy blogging!

Post a Comment

2 Comments:
Blogger Reveille said...
I listened to that Webcast live, and never once did I even think of Barry White. You just knock this stuff off, right now! Actually you have a great voice. Better than those other two clowns -- McHale and Keller
Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:24:00 AM EST  

Blogger MemoryMarketer said...
Courtney Howard, you do NOT sound like a guy. More important than the sound of your voice, however, is what you say with it. Trust me. You are doing very well. Having a strong voice in print as well in person is truly a good thing. Well done.
Thursday, November 29, 2007 9:55:00 AM EST  


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Welcome to the lighter side of Military & Aerospace Electronics. This is where our staff recount tales of the strange, the weird, and the otherwise offbeat. We could put news here, but we have the rest of our Website for that. Enjoy our scribblings, and feel free to add your own opinions. You might also get to know us in the process. Proceed at your own risk.

John Keller for MAE
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.


Courtney Howard for MAE Courtney E. Howard is senior editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine. She is responsible for writing news stories and feature articles for the print publication, as well as composing daily news for the magazine's Website and assembling the weekly electronic newsletter. Her features have appeared in such high-tech trade publications as Military & Aerospace Electronics, Computer Graphics World, Electronic Publishing, Small Times, and The Audio Amateur.


John McHale for MAE John McHale is executive editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, where he has been covering the defense Industry for more than dozen years. During that time he also led PennWell's launches of magazines and shows on homeland security and a defense publication and website in Europe. Mr. McHale has served as chairman of the Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum and its Advisory Council since 2004. He lives in Boston with his golf clubs.