Susan Swain

Co-CEO, C-SPAN

Swain’s had a busy—and news making—year, thanks to primaries, caucuses, lively Presidential debates, a Senate filibuster and an overnight sit-in at the House of Representatives. When the live official feed from the sit-in was cut, C-SPAN turned to social media for live coverage directly from the participants themselves. Ratings rose as the event trended on social media and people who seldom watched the network discovered there’s more than one C-SPAN channel. Swain is proud of how women’s roles are reflected in the network’s coverage. “Every day, our networks televise many examples of powerful women at work in all sorts of roles that influence society,” she says. Swain also hit print recently, with the publication of, “First Ladies: Presidential Historians on the Lives of 45 Iconic American Women,” a book based on the series she hosted.

What advice would you give your 13-year-old self? 

Mom’s right: practice the piano. Learn another language. Do your homework. Hang with good folks. Bounce back from disappointments.

Which current programming best reflects the kind of women’s roles you like to see and why? 

I vote for C-SPAN.  Every day, our networks televise many examples of powerful women at work in all sorts of roles that influence society.

What’s been the biggest story in cable this year? 

Digital disruption, with its many risks and rewards, continues at a dizzying pace.