TV anchor: 'Do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies'

http://www.necn.com/10/03/12/TV-anchor-Do-not-let-your-self-worth-be-/landing.html?blockID=783259

(NECN/NBC News: Anne Thompson) - A viewer of a local station in La Crosse, Wisc. sent an email to an anchorwoman -- the email said she was too heavy. She didn't like it, and she did something about it. 

"I am much more than a number on a scale."  

Most of Jennifer Livingston's viewers already know that. For a dozen years, she's anchored the morning news at WKBT in La Crosse, Wisc.   

On Wednesday, she chose to talk about herself... responding to a viewer email complaining about her weight:  

"I was surprise indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn't improved for many years. Surely you don't consider yourself a suitable example for this community's young people, girls in particular …I leave you this note, hoping that you'll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle."   

"The truth is I am overweight. You could call me fat, yes even obese on a doctor's chart. But to the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don't know that. That your cruel words are pointing out something I don't see?" Livingston said.  

In this email, Livingston saw more than just an unhappy viewer... This mother of three daughters saw a bully.   

"What really angers me about this is there are children who don't know better. Who get emails as critical as the one I received each and every day," she said.  

She says the internet has become a weapon and that this behavior is learned. 

"If you are at home and you are talking about the fat news lady guess what? Your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat. We need to teach our kids how to be kind not critical," Livingston said.  

Shortly after her segment aired on Tuesday morning, WBKT's website has gotten more than 50,000 hits.. Almost one for every person in La Crosse. 

The station says local schools used the video today to talk about bullying. The website Gawker is carrying it around the world.   

"Do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies," Livingston said.  

That's the message that's started an important conversation in Wisconsin and across the country.