Local journalist shares personal insight with URI student organization

Margie O’Brien: journalist, entrepreneur, storyteller 

Local journalist Margie O’Brien recently participated in an event with URI’s Women in Business organization. Photo from golocalprov.com

Being the youngest of six siblings, Margie O’Brien has always been a storyteller. 

As a child, the now-journalist and business owner would fight for her parent’s attention around the “elbows-to-elbows” kitchen table at their nightly 6 p.m. dinners. 

The stories had to be good, according to O’Brien, and she would think of things throughout the day that would hopefully impress her crowd. Although these anecdotes from her youth were all slightly embellished in order to be that night’s attention grabber, O’Brien said this is where she found her love for storytelling. 

The University of Rhode Island’s Women in Business organization hosted an event with O’Brien on Feb. 25 where she discussed her 27-year-long career in journalism, starting her own consulting business and how her storytelling continues to impact her life. 

Now, O’Brien is known for her work on Capitol Television reporting on Rhode Island state politics, but she didn’t solidify her love for journalism until she went to graduate school at Emerson College in Boston. According to O’Brien, her very first story was reporting on the infestation of rats amid the construction of highways throughout the city. From there, she was hooked. 

“We put it all together, and it aired on our little college station, and I just sat back and said ‘this is what I’m supposed to do,’” O’Brien said. 

From there, she went on to report throughout Massachusetts broadcast stations before ultimately coming to Rhode Island to work on then-General Treasurer of Rhode Island Frank Caprio’s gubernatorial run. She later transitioned back into covering news for Rhode Island PBS, before joining Capitol TV. This year, she became widely known for hosting former-Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily COVID-19 press briefings early in the pandemic. 

“I really did enjoy doing the press conferences,” O’Brien said. “It gave me a purpose. I felt like it was my little contribution to help out at this trying time. Also, really for me, it was my sanity.” 

In addition to her work as a reporter, O’Brien’s business development as the founder of IMAGE Margie O’Brien has allowed her to accumulate her career knowledge and share it with others to help them succeed. The company offers services that help with media training, public speaking and storytelling. 

Throughout her presentation to the club, O’Brien presented strategies to help the women succeed in the real world, as a journalist and in the job market in general.

O’Brien’s tips included keeping your look simple in order to make sure to keep the focus on your reporting, to make sure your body language and posture are both strong in order to gain the most respect from your audience and to practice your messaging in advance to ensure you feel confident about your presentation. She also provided some Zoom-friendly ideas on how to make sure you are presenting yourself as professional and setting yourself up for success, despite being at home.

She highlighted ways to “master your soundbite” in an effort to be a greater presenter and public speaker by honing in on your personal message and what you want your audience to take away. 

“Say your message over and over,” O’Brien said. “This is the way to really become a powerful speaker. I’m sure you have classes where your professor wants to hear from you. They want you to stand up and say it. They don’t want the ‘ums’ and the ‘ahs’ and the ‘I don’t really know. I don’t really care about this.’ It shows them who you are when you have a great statement.”

O’Brien offered her time to also answer any questions women from the club may have had, ranging from her journalism career endeavors to her business ownership to advice she may have for undergraduates as they enter the “real world.” 

The presentation was, in part, coordinated by Senior Lecturer Ann-Marie Sacco from the URI College of Business, who also serves as the advisor to the Women in Business club. 

“I’ve known [O’Brien] since 2005,” Sacco said. “She’s always helping in the community, and we’re very lucky to have her for a speaker.” 

O’Brien continues to work in journalism and help others through her own business endeavors, all while maintaining that sense of storytelling she fostered from her youth.