Women in Media: The Value of Women’s Stories and Perspectives

At The WIP we believe the presence of women in media is critical to resolving such universal struggles as combating terrorism, ending wars, fighting global warming, and developing cures for illness and disease. We also believe that quality international news coverage from the voices of women is imperative for just and equitable global progress – women’s insight, solutions and critical commentary must be heard. Our writers continually remind us that when women’s voices are amplified, entire communities benefit. It is now more critical than ever to work in partnership with prominent organizations like the Women’s Media Center to promote the value of women’s voices.
Welcome to The WIP’s second live community chat. I am Kate Daniels, Executive Editor of The Women’s International Perspective. Soon we will be joined by Carol Jenkins, President of the Women’s Media Center and foreign policy expert Patricia DeGennaro.

I would like to remind everyone participating of The WIP’s Terms of Use. Please consider the following guidelines for posting commentary: Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will be deleted. The use of profanity is an unnecessary distraction from important commentary. Please do not offer to sell or buy any product or service. You may not post material that infringes on copyright. The WIP reserves the right to remove any comments that do not follow our comment guidelines.

One important detail for chatting - the Return/Enter key is the key that posts your comment on the chat, so only press that key if you're ready to post your thought/question/etc. To create a line break, hold down the Shift key while you hit the Return/Enter key.

Thank you all. I look forward to an engaging and informative conversation. Welcome!
 
Kate Daniels, 12:55 PM
Welcome, Carol. According to the WMC website, women constitute 65% of all undergraduate and graduate journalism and mass communications students, yet they received only 25% of all new media jobs between 1990 and 2005. To what do you attribute the under-representation of women in media in this country?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:01 PM
Are we missing the chat?
 
Babashan, 1:04 PM
No, we've just started. Thanks for joining us!
 
Kate Daniels, 1:04 PM
Patricia, Recently you had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Masooda Jalal, the only woman who ran for the Afghan presidency. How do you think reestablishing women’s roles could transform Afghanistan politically, culturally, and socially?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:05 PM
You put your finger on the exact issue. Reestablishing women’s roles is exactly what needs to be done. The mujahedeen and the Taliban alike severally diminished women’s roles in society. The mujahedeen first, by using women as weapons of war – raping and brutally murdering many – and the Taliban by erasing their presence from society. Women roles almost need to be reintroduced to society due to their “disappearance” so to speak and the large number of orphans that grew up completely away from women. By reminding the society that women are “mother’s” as Dr. Jalal said and the nurturers, society can begin to heal and appreciate the value of women socially, culturally and politically. In the past Afghan women were politicians, warriors and mothers. The 30 year war stripped them of all these positions in life. It is time to get them back.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:06 PM
What are the first steps that you see are needed to help facilitate this process?
 
Sarah Mac, 1:07 PM
Sorry! We had a little technical glitch with our computer. To answer your question: How do we count the ways? Men occupy most of the executive suites in every sphere of media. There still are exclusionary decisions being made about women and people of color moving up the ranks. I have a friend who teaches at the graduate level and 90% of her students are women but almost all of the upper echelon decision makers are male. Since no argument can be made that women are inferior we have to assume some conscious or unconscious discrimination is at work. Women have only a quarter of the syndicated op-ed positions and 6% of the directors in major films.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:07 PM
Hi everyone. I'm an American writer/producer based in Istanbul. One of my colleagues and fellow authors -- Dr. Nassim Assefi -- who's in Kabul at the moment checking the progress of a midwifery program there reports a mother saying she'd love her daughter to join the program but girls going to school is a dishonor in her area.
 
Thandelike, 1:08 PM
Sarah that is a great question. I really feel sometimes that men have to be reminded first and foremost that women are mothers, daughters and sisters. Also, they need to be a part of the process not dismissed from it as they have been at both the Bonn agreement and the recent meeting in Europe.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:09 PM
Hi Patricia - Don't you think that the media needs to take responsibility to open the field to women who might not be seen as top "experts"? These are women who may not be formally educated but do have an intense interest in ICT and communication.
 
lysanzia, 1:10 PM
I think the glass ceiling still exists and this contributes to the role women play in the media. I heard an interesting interview on the BBC last week in which the women, noticed that the stories they were asked to cover diminish them not only as reporters but as women
 
aefpix, 1:10 PM
Responding to both Carol and Patricia's responses to these questions - How does the lack of women's voices in media relate to the oppression women face in places like Afghanistan? Is there a correlation?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:10 PM
It seems that every society has its own version of
 
Babashan, 1:11 PM
keeping women in a subservient position.
 
Babashan, 1:11 PM
To add to my question, is there a correlation to the underrepresentation of women in media and the status of women in this country, Carol?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:11 PM
Hello Thandelike. I know there is still this problem of girls in schools. I have heard of organizations who eventually get past this problem by negotiating with the mullahs who eventually understand that Islam did not mean negating a women's right to education. We all need to keep working at these things so all women go to school.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:11 PM
The question is why?
 
Babashan, 1:11 PM
Carol with statistics like these, why have there been no class action suits brought against media employers? (Or have there been?) Today I had lunch with a feminist law professor I've known since childhood who reminded me of her role in bringing a class action sex discrimination lawsuit against the University of California -- the first of its kind in America -- which they won.
 
Thandelike, 1:12 PM
Absolutely, there is a correlation. The media is the vehicle of creating history, determining what's important -- when most of everything that we know is interpreted and solved by men, it reinforces the view that women are somehow inferior.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:12 PM
I am posting my question again.
It seems that every society has its won version of keeping women subservient, My question is why?
 
Babashan, 1:13 PM
Please educate - What is the Bonn agreement?
 
aefpix, 1:14 PM
Women's voices are noticeably missing from all areas. I agree with Carole that this often means women seem inferior. The media takes little responsibility for this and that's why Carole, Kate and all of us are working so hard to get voices out there.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:14 PM
I agree! What we read and see in the media creates our interpretation of history. because the media is dominated by male voices, we are still getting only HISstory.
 
Alexandra Daniels, 1:14 PM
Isn't taking responsibility for transparency part of the problem. Going back over to Afghanistan, Pres Karzai recently denied he knew what he was signing when he signed a bill that greatly hurts women in marriage.
 
lysanzia, 1:14 PM
There was a lawsuit against the New York Times in the 1970's by women workers there for discrimination - they won!
 
TristinAaron, 1:14 PM
That's a great point, Carol. Now that media is changing so quickly, are you hopeful that there is a new opportunity for women to be included in media?
 
Sarah Mac, 1:14 PM
Yes, we very much, in the early days, when I was first in television supported all of the women at The New York Times, NBC, and many other media outlets. We've become, in the days when this country felt that equality was at hand, a bit lax and complacent. I think that last year's election coverage showed us we have a long way to go.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:14 PM
Sorry, the Bonn agreement was the initial conference held to agree on how to move forward on the governance in Afghanistan.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:15 PM
Another crucial point I think that women's stories aren't told when women aren't in the newsroom.
 
TristinAaron, 1:15 PM
Just a reminder - one important detail for chatting - the Return/Enter key is the key that posts your comment on the chat, so only press that key if you're ready to post your thought/question/etc. To create a line break, hold down the Shift key while you hit the Return/Enter key.
 
Kate Daniels, 1:15 PM
How can we get more women in the newsroom now that newsrooms are disappearing?
 
lysanzia, 1:15 PM
We're looking now at figures of women now being ejected from mainstream media. Our essential problem is that media is changing, or rather cratering...
 
CarolJenkins, 1:15 PM
Yes, that's the direction we want to go in. Just today, there was a good piece in MIT TEch Review about the constant port mortem of papers. The landscape is changing and women media producers and content producers need to take this opportunity to create things such as WIP and others--and hopefully bring the to the mainstream.
 
womenmakenews, 1:16 PM
Carol, What sort of improvements have you seen in the representation of women in media since the Women’s Media Center was founded in 2005?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:16 PM
You are right Tristan. Women are not in the newsroom too often, especially when it comes to foreign policy and international affairs, so women's stories are seldom told.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:16 PM
Hi, I'm a journalist from Argentina, currently living in Germany. From my experience in news desks in Argentina, Spain and Germany I can say that in all 3 outlets, women were under-represented.
 
Vera, 1:16 PM
I think the internet is the outlet that women internationally must continue to tap.
 
Alexandra Daniels, 1:17 PM
Tricia, women's perspectives when it comes to foreign policy and international affairs are also missing from the news...
 
Kate Daniels, 1:17 PM
Even when women are in the newsrooms or editorial meetings, their stories get shot down--keep in mind those edit meetings are a democracy where majority rules. So a mere presence doesn't help, but authority to assign the stories.
 
womenmakenews, 1:17 PM
We definitely have a new class of women experts, including Tricia, who are out there analyzing the world for us. Certainly as a consequence of Hillary Clinton's presidential run, we see more women on television but we're really working to change the fundamental statistics of reporters and executives and opinion writers.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:18 PM
What specifically can we do to get women and women's news stories on the same playing field as big media? Do we need more women leaders? More women writing? More women posting online?
 
lysanzia, 1:18 PM
Nonprofit media, especially NPR, have a very substantial representation of women's voices. While I don't think commercial media are going away any time soon, they tend to be the yang to public media's yin - a softer and deeper focus on society and humanity, less on sensationalism and sales.
 
MarthaLETV, 1:18 PM
And usually, in Argentina women are not well-received in such desks as national politics and economy. Most work in cultural sections.
 
Vera, 1:18 PM
Agreed. Even Katie Couric with her clout and experience was crucified in the media when she began her run at CBS for "feminist" reporting on issues that interest women.
 
avamalee, 1:19 PM
Yes, women's voices are missing from national security as a whole. They like to hear from men because they are traditionally in roles in the military and the like. I also think unfortunately we have produced a culture of war and women talk more about peace so this is a disconnect in news that likes drama.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:19 PM
Is it a problem that in mainstream media women's issues are othered in news, separated from "important" information and often reported in lifestyle/commentary sections?

And if so, is it a case that women must first gain more equality before gaining that share of the news, or that our fair representation in mainstream media outlets will lead to greater equality?
 
CTrouper, 1:19 PM
Interesting about NPR having womens' voices--did you know its just about the ONLY news outlet that has seen growth in recent years
 
womenmakenews, 1:19 PM
Whoops hit enter--
 
womenmakenews, 1:20 PM
Is there a correlation?
 
womenmakenews, 1:20 PM
I've noticed that "hard" news is usually relegated to men... where soft news is for the women to read and report.
 
lysanzia, 1:20 PM
NPR has a funding model that supports what the audience really wants to hear, instead of what executives think will sell soap and cars.
 
MarthaLETV, 1:20 PM
Tricia, U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zadari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai this week in Washington. What would that conversation look/sound like if Obama were instead sitting down with the people of these two countries?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:20 PM
good question
 
Alexandra Daniels, 1:21 PM
I think the answer to the earlier question of how specifically to get women in the newsrooms (esp. now that newsrooms are shrinking) is that media companies are fundamentally businesses. If they hear from their consumers, the ones they sell ads to, that they demand equal representation, that is the most powerful weapon we have. We also have to work concurrently, as the WMC does, to get progressive, feminist voices trained and get them media opps, so the world doesn't immediately think that an "expert" is an old white male professor or journalist.
 
TristinAaron, 1:21 PM
Tricia, great point about women, war, peace, and news that likes drama. That is very interesting!
 
Kate Daniels, 1:22 PM
Is there something unique about stories by women?
 
W B Daniels, 1:22 PM
True. Hard news goes to men often. As for the conversation btw. Obama, Karzai and Zardari, this will be a good first step to the US finally telling them what is expected of them. Each country blames the other for many of their problems and I know Obama will be telling them it is time to pull their resources and stop the political plays both are making which are very dangerous.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:22 PM
good point Alexandra --> the Internet and new media is an opportunity for women in media to level the playing field, by setting new agendas and establishing our expertise outside of traditional outlets
 
Thandelike, 1:22 PM
I agree re: internet and new media is the opportunity
 
aefpix, 1:23 PM
Tricia's right. Still when it comes to credibility, anyone other than white male has more convincing to do, at the WMC, we always demand 50% of the positions...
 
CarolJenkins, 1:23 PM
I feel right now that women media pioneers (and that means all of us here) are trying so hard to let women be experts in answering the questions. How can we get everyone else to do the same?
 
lysanzia, 1:23 PM
I've been pleased to see that media outlets and divisions, like NBC Nightly News for example, have a number of female executives at senior producer levels that helped shaped stories. I've noticed an increase in commitment to covering women's issues and I look to this as a sign of hope.
 
AMartyn, 1:23 PM
Terrific discussion, WIP, specially, Carol, Tricia & Kate. Tricia, what have you seen in Afghanistan that you do not see reflected back in the US media?
 
gtestone, 1:23 PM
I think women see more possibilities where as men often stick with what they should say or points/agendas they want. In a soundbite world this is often hard to reconcile.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:24 PM
News are almost always focus on the conflict and not on the solution. So a major shift in the mindset of the editors is needed, in the editorial criteria.
 
Vera, 1:24 PM
Many people think that this is an outrageous request, most of us accustomed to male authority. We're working to make sure that to this country and the world can actually accept a 50/50 split in opportunity.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:24 PM
One of the most successful tweeters/bloggers I have found recently is a "mommyblogger"
 
aefpix, 1:24 PM
My concerns about thinking of New Media as the solution for women's voices is that there is not a strong economic model yet. I hate it when I see all of these brilliant women writing without getting paid.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:25 PM
I recently interviewed a reporter who believes that working under editors who are women makes it much easier to write stories pertinent to women, and to include experts who are women in her reporting.
 
camillemonique, 1:25 PM
There's also a growing interest among audiences in storytelling - not so much depending on 'experts' but sharing personal experiences that are representative of many people. I think this is more of a women's approach, although some of the best existing interviewers are men, like Dick Gordon of The Story on NPR.
 
MarthaLETV, 1:26 PM
In Afghanistan, there are so many issues that women face. Just take the recent law that Karzai ignored that was so controversial. No one mentioned that he was actually trying to legalize abuse that is happening everyday and that is why the constitution had outlawed it in the first place. Also no one talk about the women addicted to opium and the like.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:26 PM
Great thought Vera. Showing only the conflict vs getting to a solution is an important ingredient that women offer to media!
 
lysanzia, 1:26 PM
Also, as far as the internet goes as an opportunity for women, the research we have seen at the WMC shows that while there are slightly more women online than men worldwide (amazing, isn't it, when you consider class issues), men still hold the majority of editorial positions at blogs and online news sites. Not at the WIP, though - one of the many reasons its stories are so diverse and unique.
 
TristinAaron, 1:26 PM
If having women in the top tiers of the media industry is the answer how do you promote this?
 
camillemonique, 1:26 PM
Are "mommybloggers" just a US craze or do we see international potential?
 
avamalee, 1:26 PM
A lot of women bloggers feel that "mommybloggers" is a diminishing category, but there is definitely power in it as well, as advertisers increasingly target "mommybloggers."
 
TristinAaron, 1:27 PM
We have to remember that many of the stories we're talking about are not really women's stories -- they're human stories devalued because they are women's stories.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:27 PM
Re: Mommybloggers illustrates a former point here on "storytelling" versus the "expert" point of view. This mommblogger btw is NOT a celebrity
 
aefpix, 1:27 PM
yes, carol. that is the essence of the problem.
 
Vera, 1:28 PM
I just noticed today on Amnesty International UK shortlist of new awardees for journalistic stories that out of 82 / 22 were women. That's 2 to 1 in favour of the men. And these better than average good odds. Maybe more awards should be going to women.
 
lysanzia, 1:28 PM
Carol, How does the gender gap in news media compare to the gender gap in leadership positions in this country?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:28 PM
When I was in Liberia earlier this year, I visited a rehabilitation center for fistula patients. 75% of them heard about the program through radio -- the mission of a woman radio announcer.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:28 PM
I agree that often conflict is often looked at as better discussed by men so women are underused and, as Carol says, rarely paid or paid less.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:28 PM
MarthaLETV - that's really the heart of why we think personal perspectives are so powerful - storytelling is hard to forget. Reading an onslaught of impersonal statistics is not enough to engage people in dialog or action. By sharing personal stories, we see how we're all connected...
 
Sarah Mac, 1:28 PM
Yes, I echo Carol Jenkins, human stories. I would like to offer my tweet profile - www.twitter.com/aefpix - I am using twitter for social action/information gathering and its great!
 
aefpix, 1:28 PM
Believe it or not, the gap in political life -- that kind of leadership -- is much worse than in the media.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:29 PM
Looking at Afghanistan specifically, Americans for UNFPA recently awarded Sakena Yacoobi, founder of the Afghan Institute for Learning with the 2009 Board of Advocates Award for the Health and Dignity of Women. This allowed us to engage Americans at large- donors, business leaders, activists-- in forums that allowed Sakena to share her experiences empowering women, and in particular providing access to education at a time when the Taliban banned such activities. We were able to generate media coverage of her story and continue to and think its important to generate coordinated approaches like this to making women's voices more heard! When there is a buzz, we know the media is more likely to pay attention.
 
AMartyn, 1:29 PM
Ooops sorry wrong stats -- out of 44 awardees on AIUK 23 were women.
 
lysanzia, 1:29 PM
Yes Sarah - when you put a face to a story it changes everything.. when I started reading personal tweets from people in the refugee camps in Darfur, Chad - it changed everything!
 
aefpix, 1:30 PM
We're still at an abysmal 17% of elected officials who are women. Some suggest that it's the media that dissuades a woman from running for political office.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:30 PM
Is conflict really "better looked at" by men? Not true in my experience with mediators.
 
W B Daniels, 1:30 PM
aefpix -- yet your twitter stream is protected. do you mind explaining why you reduce access to it? (you can find me at @thandelike)
 
Thandelike, 1:31 PM
Out of interest, may I ask why so much focus on Afghanistan? Is it the definitive example of womens roles in the media?
 
aefpix, 1:31 PM
Many Afghan women like Dr. Massouda Jalal and Seema Samar are setting the tone for more women voices. Still they often are taking their own lives in their hands. After someone reported things Dr. Jalal said here on her trip, she has had many many threats to her life, which may tell us we also need to be careful in the media about how we do report stories when we can.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:32 PM
Yes, I have received some unsavory followers and this is my way of keeping spammers out of the mix and maintain my focus and intention.
 
aefpix, 1:32 PM
I think the extension of the media sidelining women's issues as secondary & lifestyle news means that when women want to run for office, to improve the lot of women and girls they're mocked for harboring feminist views, rather than concerns for society on a whole (again, issues that primarily effect men/their lives/their jobs)
 
CTrouper, 1:32 PM
Or in the case of Sarah Palin, the media made her into a desirable candidate for many by emphasizing her sexuality and appearance...
 
Sarah Mac, 1:33 PM
I've been noticing many of the grant awards do not go to smaller based women's media projects. They seem to go over often to larger NGOs that already have a much larger outreach. Gret to see UNFPA sending monies out to women who are working hard in smaller venues.
 
lysanzia, 1:33 PM
I think, too, that we need to separate what I call, "Embedded Pundits" and the effect they have on women in the media as opposed to legitimate journalists who are trained to be as objective as possible. The pundits are responsible for much of the fractiousness in our country today.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:34 PM
By participating in this forum, you've also shown a commitment to improving the health and dignity of women. At Americans for UNFPA we work to engage partners like you to be a voice for yourself and a voice for women everywhere. Please take a moment, post discussion, to declare yourself a supporter of global women's health, www.americansforunfpa.org/iam.
 
AMartyn, 1:34 PM
@aefpix I just UNPROTECTED my profile for this session.
 
aefpix, 1:34 PM
AMartyn - I am following you on twitter
 
aefpix, 1:35 PM
True W.B. on the mediators point. They are usually very well trained and have clear site of what conflict truly does to people. Men security experts don't usually look at things in the same way.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:35 PM
Good point Carol. What do we do with our embedded pundits? I know all of us are dealing with spam from all directions.
 
lysanzia, 1:35 PM
Agreed, CTrouper. Hard news is defined as politics and economics, where male journalists dominate, "soft" news as lifestyle and culture, where women are in high representation. This dismissive definition has huge consequences for how a society views what is important, and who should get to address and analyze it, whether in the media or politics.
 
Aralena Malone-Leroy, 1:35 PM
Sarah, a similar thing happened in Germany with Chancellor Merkel. When a photo of her cleavage was published, she started doing better in the polls because many people saw her as the "mother" of the country.
 
Vera, 1:35 PM
I think one thing we must remember is the distinct difference between women and men. We perceive importance in such vastly different ways...in almost every activity in life. We are fundamentally different in our focus, and therefore, if we are a media executive we are going to chose to highlight different agendas. This is human nature. These differences are represented by the governments and religions of the world. Shouldn't we start with this concept?
 
elsa, 1:36 PM
We noticed that John Kerry is conducting hearings on the collapse of mainstream Media tomorrow...if the newspapers get a bailout, we have to insist that they balance their numbers.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:37 PM
Thanks Lysanzia for your support. Carol, in regard to "embedded pundits", how do you suggest we navigate the growing social media/online marketplace and abundance of self declared "online experts?"
 
AMartyn, 1:37 PM
I agree on the agree on the embed a pundit - I am so tired of right and left. I just want someone to tell it the best way they can so people start being more critical of why so many are always fighting.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:37 PM
Great point, Carol! That should be a mandatory condition...
 
Sarah Mac, 1:37 PM
Women need to redefine "security" to include access to health care, food and clean water, and freedom from personal violence
 
ElizabehC, 1:38 PM
I work with international documentary, and many of the world's finest documentarians are women. There are lots of stories being told that take a different view of life - where politics and economics are NOT the final word, or even most important aspects of life. Take a look at www.LETV.org to see trailers of some work from China and Morocco.
 
MarthaLETV, 1:38 PM
I think that's going to be a trust-to-trust issue. Organizations who have the bandwidth are going to have to sort through and vet as best we can for our readers.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:39 PM
Elsa, I don't agree. Exactly that is the problem, women are under-represented in the media. Its in human nature to discriminate, unfortunately.
 
Vera, 1:39 PM
I think it also must be noted that the female gender does not always embody feminist values
 
aefpix, 1:39 PM
Very interesting point, Carol, about the media dissuading women from running for office. The WMC's video campaign "Sexism Sells, But We're Not Buying It" was excellent. Is the treatment female candidates receive in the media part of the problem?
 
Kate Daniels, 1:39 PM
About the documentaries -- my concern is that has never been a self supporting occupation. Women have to support their families. I'm all for the creative process in the documentary field but I want women to make as much money as men do, doing the same.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:40 PM
Politics and economics ARE an important part of our lives and effect us every day...we just need to bring women to the table as equal players
 
ElizabehC, 1:40 PM
They are ElizabehC, it is just taking time other reason why we need more women voices in media.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:40 PM
What is the significance of Rachel Maddow in all of this?
 
W B Daniels, 1:40 PM
As an anthropologist, I can step into the role of expert here - and agree that gender and 'feminine' or 'masculine' values do not overlap 100%!
 
MarthaLETV, 1:41 PM
Isn't Rachel amazing? I think she's evidence that a LOT of people are tired of the old straight white guy expert model....
 
MarthaLETV, 1:42 PM
Yes, Kate. I think many women who would love to serve are terrified by the "burn at the stake" attitude. As we know, it's not the qualifications up for scrutiny, it's clothes and hair and...
 
CarolJenkins, 1:42 PM
In the US the need for "authority" figures in media might be getting in the way for more women leaders in media. What do you think Carol - Patricia - Kate?
 
lysanzia, 1:42 PM
I agree with Carole. We are trying to do a job and this must be recognized and our contributions should be recognized and values as well.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:42 PM
The significance of Rachel Maddow, I believe, is it is wonderful to see a woman with a prime time cable news program. She is a real expert voice at the table.
 
Kate Daniels, 1:42 PM
I hear what you're saying Carol -- that women should make as much money as men -- but does that mean we need to go where the money is, rather than pursue work and methods that are meaningful to us? Or does it mean we need to continue on our path and attempt to draw/build compensation for what we do best?
 
Thandelike, 1:43 PM
Some women, and even some men, analysts have looked at how poorly a job has been done with our economy and our media by men. The next step is to actually let the women in.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:43 PM
lysanzia, that is certainly true when it comes to experts in the military, but if we are not careful and respect other voices, we will become more militarized and less peaceful.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:44 PM
I think that sometimes men see professional women as a threat. For example, if you say he's an ambitioned man, its good but if you hear she's an ambitioned woman, then usually the person talking puts a negative connotation attached to it.
 
Vera, 1:44 PM
We have 15 more minutes on the Chat, and I'd love for us to consider possible action items that we can all take away from this conversation. How can we translate the need for women's voices into concrete steps and actions?
 
Sarah Mac, 1:45 PM
Carol, the economy is a wonderful case in point where I think women's perspectives, ideas, insights, and solutions globally are in need!
 
Kate Daniels, 1:46 PM
Thank you for your question,Thandelike, it's a hard life choice, because changes we're working for may not happen in our immediate work lifespan. I'd say don't give up your creative determination and we all must insist that serious documentaries thrive in some way, but women just have to figure out how to engage in economic success.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:46 PM
Kate, I would be careful about Rachel. Although, you are right it's great to see her, I would like to see her get more progressive with the program, it really reports what most others do except no pundit bickering - a thing I know she doesn't like.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:47 PM
I'm optimistic. I think that we can learn, both sides to try and understand each other. Its important to be "open" for constructive discussions. Don't be afraid to speak up! It would have been interesting to have men in this chat as well!
 
Vera, 1:48 PM
I have to say that I've been working very hard w/Women News Network - WNN with low level of monitization (which means I've been working as diretor for free most of the past 3 yrs, but not by choice). There is a level of monetization that is needed to step up to the next level. I believe deeply that all women esp women reporters and women in all levels of media should be paid adequately. WNN does pay all reporters.
 
lysanzia, 1:48 PM
could someone help where is the live chat??
 
onevoice, 1:48 PM
Kate, you may be interested to know that in October the International Museum of Women will launch its focus on Women and the Eonomy, doing exactly what you said -- bringing in women's perspectives. We are a social change virtual museum. Last year we focused on Women, Power and Politics with over 200 stories from 77 countires. Check it out at www.imow.org
 
ElizabehC, 1:48 PM
You're on it, onevoice...
 
Sarah Mac, 1:48 PM
I do want to get back to Rachel Maddow, she's making a great contribution but we want to see 20 Rachels! Think about Sunday Morning, the most segregated span of media -- no women, no people of color hosting shows. To Kate's point about action steps, let's demand some representation there for starters!
 
CarolJenkins, 1:50 PM
Tricia, have you noticed that she appears to be listening though, even to folks that she clearly doesn't agree with? I think that it will be nearly impossible for us to create solutions to the problems we are facing globally if we cannot have a conversation with one another. I really do appreciate this quality she has. She also does a bit better than many reporting international news stories, albeit mixed in with a lot of politics...
 
Kate Daniels, 1:50 PM
alright...thank you ...I am so sad that I am late :( it will be over soon :( ...I would like to say one thing....today my teacher was talking about that how in most of the countires (developing) women are the ones who are preety much running the country...taking care of kids, farming, walking for hours to get hours...it was just very amazing
 
onevoice, 1:50 PM
How do we make such demands, carol?
 
Babashan, 1:50 PM
Caro: Would that mean representation ruled by law? Is that the only solution?
 
Vera, 1:51 PM
I’ve seen first hand women being successful in the heath industry, fields such as science, marketing, and engineering. Their (female) presence is typically strong with companies focusing on female health issues. Is there some portion of the media that is more dominated by women? Like the Rachael Maddow show.
 
RYAN, 1:51 PM
Sarah, one way people can get involved is through some of the women's issue focused NGOs - obviously Carol's org is an example with regard to media issues. With regard to International women's rights, Americans for UNFPA has a new campaign aimed at getting more of us to declare ourselves for women's rights and health: http://iam.americansforunfpa.org/.
 
Jesse, 1:51 PM
Carol, don't you have a list of female experts to provide to the media?
 
ElizabehC, 1:51 PM
Couldn't agree more with Carole on more Maddows. Also the Women's Museam is a great venue because it gives us the opportunity to see women from everywhere and get many more perspectives on people in our world.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:51 PM
I am doing a research project on women and media..how media has helped women gain more rights but how it also discriminates them...also when it comes to media and women people are very positive or negativr about it...do you know why?? what is the reason..
 
onevoice, 1:52 PM
Living Earth Television is a nonprofit working to create international venues for documentary television programs created in local communities worldwide. The emphasis is on stories, communities, families, spirituality, sustainability, peacemakers - possibly could be seen as feminine values. Created by a woman, now led by a very balanced team of women and me - and still led by a woman.
 
MarthaLETV, 1:52 PM
Vote with your tv, but tuning into women led news shows like Maddow's. Let the channel/production company know they have a growing audience.

Utilize, Subscribe and Support your women's news outlets like WMC & Women's eNews, give them the power to further redress the balance of information on news the mainstream media glances by.
 
CTrouper, 1:52 PM
The Women's Media Center works everyday to make women visible and powerful in the media. launching campaigns when progressive women are abused & ignored in the media, training women to be expert spokespeople and publishing women's stories (for pay) on our website: www.womensmediacenter.com
 
gtestone, 1:53 PM
We do need more Rachael Maddows who are anchors of their own shows. The public just needs to get used to this. I think Katie Couric has been doing a great job also.
 
lysanzia, 1:53 PM
Yes, Elizabeth Colton -- you're one of the best! I think the next step is for all of the organizations on this call and, NOT, to coordinate our activities so that we have more universal clout.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:53 PM
Hi there, I’m a life coach based in San Francisco, CA- US. Thank you Kate, Carol, and everyone for your time and insights. What’s your ultimate vision for women in media? Dare to dream. What 3 favorite advice/tools/questions that keeps you focus on your vision? I’d love to share with my brilliant female clients, apply as a daily practice, and keep them accountable. I’d love for them to see the value of themselves, their stories and perspectives, to leap into the media arena. I know when they do, they will be rewarded beyond what they thought was possible. Thanks.
 
lilywlam, 1:53 PM
Yes, but we need economic support too.
 
Vera, 1:53 PM
Tricia, I think you are wrong about Rachel. As a woman who has been an activist since the sixties, I believe Rachel is exactly what is needed right now. She can get people to listen in a manner that is engaging and is not afraid to express her beliefs. How refreshing!
 
Elisa, 1:54 PM
Representation for women could happen two ways -- pressure on advertisers to encourage networks to do the right thing, OR we need a stronger FCC that truly has the public interest in mind.
 
BAC, 1:54 PM
From the government, for example.
 
Vera, 1:54 PM
why are you involved in this Organization...is there a personal connection behind it??
 
onevoice, 1:54 PM
If you're experiencing a delay in the chat, please refresh now.
 
Sarah Mac, 1:54 PM
Onevoice, nice to have you. You are right many women are doing those things, but they still lack the power to govern. We are though seeing places like Liberia who have many women in all kinds of cabinet positions and the Presidency. There is so much change there now and much less violence.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 1:55 PM
Carol, you were just in Liberia moderating the international women's conference there, right?
 
TristinAaron, 1:56 PM
why is it that people are so ignorant about women in afghanistan in general..??? what can we do to teach people more about them..and their way of life..
 
onevoice, 1:56 PM
Also do you think women wil ever be equal to men in ways we want to be....because I dont think so...on TV everyday women are stereotyped...
 
onevoice, 1:57 PM
In our WMC trainings, we're always faced with women's diminished sense of their worth and their talent. We ask them to quickly name three things that they're expert in. And ALWAYS, even the most accomplished, feel their talents don't rise to the level of expertise. Seldom have I met a man so modest.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:57 PM
Thanks all for the discussion. Anastasia
 
Thandelike, 1:58 PM
Tricia, do you think we need to be nore cautious about covering specific stories on women in Afghanistan, or should we post more? I've been concerned about escalating violence against women in north and south regions. Was recently contacted by Nato News Press for a story on a new girls school and have yet to post it.
 
lysanzia, 1:58 PM
Yes, Carol! I think that is one of the biggest challenges women face submitting op-eds - we don't recognize our expertise. Men do not self-scrutinize in the same way...
 
Kate Daniels, 1:59 PM
Yes, Tristin. The presidents of Liberia and Findland brought some of the women leaders of the world to talk about leadership and importantly, working together. An important piece of the conversation was women's role in negotiating peace either at the table or in alternate tracks.
 
CarolJenkins, 1:59 PM
Carol: very interesting. that is also the problem, too much modesty.
 
Vera, 1:59 PM
Also..you know when it comes to muslim women specifically people think we are supressed etc..because of our religion...which is not true..it is our culture that suppresses women ....how can we change the way people think....
 
onevoice, 2:00 PM
To return to the question of how we make dmands for representation...speak up! Every time you see a news show, hear a panel, read a magazine where women are underrepresented (or represented badly)make a call, write a letter, let your voice be heard. WMC often gives us clues as to when to protest!
 
ElizabehC, 2:00 PM
Carol, you are right on point with your observation.
 
BAC, 2:00 PM
Afghanistan is a very complicated place. However, women experienced freedom from the 1930's to the 70's so their is no reason they cannot experience it again. We do, as lysanzia says need to be cautious when covering them, they are in danger. Many have been killed for running for office, being on media outlets and joining police. I also will say that I think it is so important to also work with the young boys and me so they don't continue to have these thoughts that women should be not seen and not heard.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 2:00 PM
This is my first chat and I was reading as quickly as I could while trying to make sure my children don't destroy the house. I look forward to the next chat! Very informative, empowering, and interesting - thank you all!!
 
andrea, 2:00 PM
Thank you so much, The Wip for this great opportunity to chat with you all!
 
Vera, 2:00 PM
I really think the underlying theme in the media is control. In the US we are controlled in so many ways. And if we look from the top down, we can see that most corporations are dominated by men- old white men to be exact. There is without a doubt an agenda held by these corporations, that may or may not specifically have a gendered agenda, but a strong agenda it has for sure. I think women and men alike are subject to this corporate domination. If we'd like to see equality in media then we must find a way to dilute corporate power- then we all have a much stronger chance to have our voices heard.
 
elsa, 2:01 PM
This has been an amazing chat. It will be available in The WIP Talk archives immediately following the chat. Carol and Tricia, thank you so much for joining us for the hour. To all our participants who joined from around the globe, thank you for making this conversation possible.
 
Kate Daniels, 2:01 PM
Thanks everyone - for such a constructive and interesting conversation! I hope we can all take this energy forward and keep creating the space for women in media.
 
Sarah Mac, 2:02 PM
Thank you to WIP for the opportunity! Really enjoyed it.
 
CarolJenkins, 2:02 PM
thank you very much...I really enjoyed this opportunity to ask few questions..thanks to all of you and to Paddy Torsney for sending me the invitation :) Keep it up..I think this is what we need to gain more power and for men to understand us better.
 
onevoice, 2:03 PM
And I hope we can continue to find ways to cultivate a culture of collaboration - this has been fantastic!

Cheers,
Sarah McGowan
Features & Photo Editor, The WIP
 
Sarah Mac, 2:03 PM
Thank you to WIP and everyone. I enjoyed this very much and thank you all for your great comments.
 
TriciaDeGennaro, 2:03 PM
I will try to stay updated on WIP so that I have more time next time to ask more questions...
 
onevoice, 2:04 PM
Thanks for joining us - see you at the next Chat!
 
Sarah Mac, 2:04 PM
Thanks everyone! - Lys Anzia, Women News Network - WNN
 
lysanzia, 2:04 PM
Is it possible for you ladies to fill out a survey for me..it is for my Research Project..for my Interdisciplinary Studies class. and it is related to media..?? will it be allowed??
 
onevoice, 2:05 PM

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