[3] Battelle first worked in newspapers at the Dayton Journal-Herald; one of her colleagues there was Erma Bombeck, who was also just starting her career.
[4][5] Battelle moved to New York City after college, and was a fashion writer at Women's Wear Daily.
In 1951, Battelle won the Newswomen's Club of New York's award for distinguished writing.
[7] She was known for her celebrity interviews,[8][9] and fashion reports,[10] but she also covered diplomacy,[11][12] the arts,[6] and cultural controversies,[13] including the Karen Ann Quinlan case.
[16] In addition to her Assignment: America columns, which were widely syndicated, Battelle wrote for magazines including Good Housekeeping[17][18] and The Ladies' Home Journal.