This article originally appeared in Publisher's Weekly
By Sophia Stewart
Women's Media Group (WMG) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala at the New-York Historical Society on the Upper West Side on March 25. More than 200 members of the professional association attended the event, which featured a cocktail mixer, silent auction, keynote interview, and award ceremony. The evening also saw WMG copresidents Jodi Brockington and Jennifer A. Perry announce the launch of the WMG Forever Project, an archive and oral history of the organization.
Brooklyn Public Library board chair Nina Lorez Collins (c.) accepted the Champion of Media Award on behalf of the BPL's Booked Unbanned Initiative from WMG copresidents Jodi Brockington (l.), CEO of NIARA Consulting, and Jennifer A. Perry (r.), director of audiobooks at Barnes & Noble. Photo credit: Katie Taylor Photography
WMG was founded in the autumn of 1974, with organizers deciding to hold its 50th anniversary gala in March due to its being Women's History Month. (Perry also noted that the gala date marked Gloria Steinem's 90th birthday.) Roughly 80% of its members work in book publishing.
WMG president emeritus Kathy Sandler, senior manager of content applications and digital workflow development at Penguin Random House, was the interlocutor of the evening's keynote interview with author Gretchen Rubin. During the interview, Rubin, best known for her 2009 book The Happiness Project, surmised that she was one of the first authors to use blogging to establish an audience before publishing her first book and stressed that a "direct connection to your audience is precious," noting that newsletters and podcasts are more effective ways to build this connection than such mediated platforms as Instagram or Twitter.
Author and keynote speaker Gretchen Rubin (r.) was interviewed by Kathy Sandler (l.), WMG president emerita and senior manager of content applications and digital workflow at Penguin Random House. Photo credit: Katie Taylor Photography
Among the evening's award honorees were the Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned initiative, editor and literary agent Marie Dutton Brown, Bloomsbury senior editor Amber Oliver, literary nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, Abrams president and CEO Mary McAveney, TalentFairy founder and CEO Chandra Turner, and Meet the Writers founder and executive director Michele Weisman.
Author and Brooklyn Public Library board chair Nina Lorez Collins accepted the Champion of Media Award on behalf of the BPL and its Books Unbanned initiative, which gives library cards to teens and young adults across the U.S. to provide access to digital copies of widely banned books. Collins previously worked as a scout, agent, and author, and finally took over managing the estate of her mother, the late author Kathleen Collins, before being named board chair at the Brooklyn Public in 2021.
"We couldn't sit idly by while books rejected by a few were removed from library shelves for all," she said of Books Unbanned, which launched in April 2022. She added that more than 7,000 teens had applied for cards and five libraries have joined the program since its launch.
Legendary literary agent and editor Marie Dutton Brown (c.)—pictured here with her granddaughter Kia Brown (l.) and Riverchild Media founder Yona Deshommes (r.)—accepted the Media Trailblazer Award. Photo credit: Katie Taylor Photography
Publishing legend Marie Dutton Brown reflected on her illustrious career while accepting the Media Trailblazer Award. Over the course of nearly six decades, Brown was a senior editor at Doubleday, sales manager at Endicott Booksellers, editor-in-chief of Elan magazine, and finally the founder of her own literary agency, Marie Brown and Associates, making her one of the book world's first Black agents.
"The significance of the opportunity that Doubleday offered me nearly 60 years ago"—as a "general publishing trainee," i.e. an intern—"continues to be fundamental to my work today," Brown said.
Bloomsbury senior editor Amber Oliver was presented the Media Superstar Award by her sister, Naomi Spratley, a contracts assistant at Macmillan, who said she decided to pursue a career in publishing thanks to Amber's example. "Ultimately, my dream of being an editor who has helped authors leave a mark on the world has come true," Oliver said, before thanking several colleagues and mentors, including Callie Garnett of Bloomsbury and Tracy Sherrod of Little, Brown.
We Need Diverse Books president and CEO Ellen Oh accepted the Diversity Advocate Award on behalf of the organization, which advocates for more diversity in children's literature. She noted that while she was "deeply honored" to accept the award, she was also "painfully aware" of the fact that the current wave of book banning is in large part a "direct response to our work." She added, "Awards like this make us aware that we are not alone in this fight."
Women's Media Group (WMG), a leader in championing women in media, proudly announces its 50th Anniversary Gala, a milestone event celebrating five decades of unwavering commitment to women's empowerment, diversity, and community in the media industry. Scheduled for March 25 at New-York Historical Society’s Gallery of Tiffany Lamps, the gala will honor the past and look forward to the future of women in media, and all are welcome to attend.
The gala promises an unforgettable evening, featuring an awards ceremony, a cocktail party, and a silent auction, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit WMG Educational Foundation. The Foundation plays a crucial role in WMG's mission, offering women educational opportunities and financial assistance at every stage of their media careers. Since its inception, WMG has funded more than 50 Scholarship and Fellowship winners and almost 100 paid media industry internships.
Since its inception in 1974 by Joni Evans, Eden Lipson, Judith Daniels, Elizabeth Crow, and Carol Rinzler, WMG has grown to 500+ members strong and is a dynamic force, providing a platform for women in publishing, journalism, and all facets of media to connect, learn, rise, and inspire. The New York City-based nonprofit has cultivated a community where women mentor and uplift each other, advancing the position of women in media through knowledge, communication, and the power of collaboration.
50th Anniversary Gala Award Honorees:
The gala will spotlight the achievements of remarkable women and organizations that resonate with WMG's core values:
A Legacy of Empowerment
WMG began as a group of visionary women who sought to create a space to discuss their careers and aspirations in male-dominated fields. From casual lunches for a few to a wide array of programs and events for a formidable network of members and the wider public, WMG has evolved to be an impactful and valued organization in the larger publishing and media landscape. Led for 50 years by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors, WMG’s current co-presidents are Jodi Brockington and Jennifer A. Perry. WMG’s mission remains to enhance its members’ knowledge, educational opportunities, connections to one another, and career growth, fostering a vibrant community where members can thrive. The 50th Anniversary Gala will kick off WMG’s next 50 years of support for its members and growing influence in the media universe. Tickets are available here: https://www.womensmediagroup.org/Gala-Tickets.
WMG also honors winners of new annual scholarship to support women in media.
(New York, NY — May 2, 2023) The Women’s Media Group (WMG), a New York City–based national nonprofit association of professional women, who have achieved prominence in publishing and other fields of media, has selected its new Board of Directors for 2023-24. Additionally, it has announced the inaugural honorees of the WMG Presidents Emeritae Scholarship Award.
Returning for a second year as Co-President is Jennifer A. Perry, Director of Audiobooks at Barnes & Noble. Joining her to co-lead the organization is Jodi Brockington, WMG’s first Black woman to lead the organization since its founding in 1974. Ms. Brockington has served as a longtime board member. She also serves as CEO & Founder of NIARA Consulting.
Ms. Brockington said, “My leadership in this role builds on WMG’s longstanding commitment to diversity as well as my own lifelong goal to be inclusive and an agent of change.”
Other 2023-24 WMG Board members announced include:
WMG is also proud to announce the winners of its inaugural WMG Presidents Emeritae Award: Cassidy Ridgeway and Sherisma A. Liburd, seniors at HBCU Medgar Evers College, City University of New York. Both are English majors, who were honored at a live event last March. As WMG Scholars, Ridgeway and Liburd received financial awards as well as full membership in WMG for three years to provide them access to WMG’s 500+ members and vast resources to help them advance their careers in media.
“This new annual award strengthens and expands WMG’s longstanding mission to provide financial aid to young women with diverse backgrounds beginning their careers in any aspect of publishing or media,” noted Co-President Jennifer A. Perry. “Created to honor the commitment of all past WMG presidents, this award is structured to support any in-the-moment needs we see that reflect the current priorities of our membership.”
In 2022, WMG disbursed $29,000 to 11 Scholars in partnership with the City University of New York, Columbia University, FIT, Fordham University, New York University, Pace University, and Girl Write Now. To learn more about Women’s Media Group, visit www.womensmediagroup.org. For media inquiries, please contact Brittany Fuller at info@womensmediagroup.org.
This announcement originally appeared on the Fordham University blog.
Sera Allen, a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill, received Fordham’s first-ever award from the Women’s Media Group (WMG) this year.
The nonprofit serves as a professional association for women in media, including the publishing industry, digital media, newspapers, TV, film, and more. It awards scholarships each year to students in New York city colleges and universities to help “support the education of future publishing professionals who have demonstrated leadership in advancing literacy and promoting diversity/underrepresented voices in our industry.”
This was the first year the group added Fordham to its list of schools that receive awards each year, with Allen being the first recipient. As a part of the award, Allen received a $2,000 scholarship toward her education and three years of membership in the organization.
Nevin Mays, co-chair of scholarships and fellowships for the organization said that they ask applicants to talk about their experiences, leadership skills, and goals for diversity in media, which is what Allen said she did for hers.
“I wrote an essay to get the scholarship about how I want to go into publishing as a career and uplift women’s voices through publishing and writing,” she said.
Allen, who’s looking to pursue a career in the publishing industry, said that she always knew she wanted to work in the field.
“I’ve always loved books since I was little—I always knew it was my passion and that I wanted to be an English major when I got to college,” she said adding that she really enjoys autobiographical books because they help tell “people’s stories through challenges and triumphs,” and that helps her relate to different people.
Allen said that she was grateful to Fordham’s English department, particularly the creative writing faculty, for helping her enhance her skills.
“I think I’ve become a better writer throughout my four years,” she said, adding that her creative writing classes were small and interactive. “It was rigorous. The writing workshops we would do—every single student would give you feedback on your writing. It definitely helped me.”
Mary Bly, chair of the Fordham English department, who is a member of the group, said that the membership in the group is “by far the most useful” part of the award, since students get to attend events, network with the members, and participate in workshops.
Mays agreed that the networking and membership are the biggest benefits of the award, as usually the organization is open to women who have been in the field for 5+ years.
“They can take full advantage of everything we offer. We have so many great events that our event committee comes up with,” Mays said, citing a few recent ones on women in power, branding workshops, and a featured event with dancer Misty Copeland.
Bly said that she hopes this will help create more excitement for future applicants and create a cycle of women in the group from Fordham.
“So next year, we’ll have a new senior, but Sera will still be a member, and so we’re hoping we can have revolving memberships,” she said. “This [award]is a very exciting one.”
Allen said she’s already been to a few WMG events, including one for Black History Month.
“I’m really happy and grateful I got this experience, and happy to be a part of the group for the next three years,” she said.
This announcement originally appeared on the Medgar Evers College blog.
Brooklyn, NY, March 16, 2023 — Medgar Evers College seniors Cassidy Ridgeway and Sherisma A. Liburd were recently named recipients of the inaugural Women’s Media Group Presidents Emerita Awards. Both are English majors who will receive financial support from the Women’s Media Group Educational Foundation. As WMG Scholars, each can join the organization as a member with full benefits for three years—their membership fees are waived for this period while they’re in school or starting their media careers.
Ridgeway is currently on her way to obtaining a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing. Given her love of the written word, Ridgeway intends to become a social media manager upon graduation while having it be a major part of her non-work life.
“In my free time, I enjoy writing various stories because writing allows me to find freedom through artistic expression, and it helps to build communications skills,” Ridgeway said.
Liburd is an aspiring writer trying to find her place in the ever-bustling city that is New York, all while being a Teaching Artist at the Harlem Children’s Zone, where she teaches young scholars creative writing as well as music.
“I love to write, from the news to songwriting,” said Liburd. “I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope that it only ascends from here on out.”
Women’s Media Group Co-President Emerita Kathy Sandler said, “We’re so pleased to offer these scholarships to bright young women at a respected PBI (Predominantly Black Institution) in the New York metro area.” Julie Blattberg, also a Co-President Emerita, added, “WMG is all about community, and we welcome Cassidy and Sherisma to learn from the membership—as we expect to have much to learn from them.”
With these awards, the WMG Board of Directors invites each WMG Scholar to participate in networking events, career-development programs, and workshops, and to take advantage of opportunities to network with professional members and other WMG Scholars.
About the Women’s Media Group
Launched in the early 1970s, the Women’s Media Group (WMG) is a New York City–based national nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in the many fields of media. Our members—drawn primarily from book, magazine, and newspaper publishing; film and television; and online and other digital media—meet to collaborate with, learn from, inform, and support one another. The organization is also dedicated to mentoring young women interested in pursuing media careers.
About Medgar Evers College Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Medgar Evers College offers both associate and baccalaureate degrees. A four-year college within the City University of New York (CUNY) system, Medgar Evers College was established in 1970 with a mandate to meet the educational and social needs of the Central Brooklyn community. In its commitment to providing students with a sound academic foundation as well as an opportunity for personal development, Medgar Evers College offers high-quality, professional, career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of a liberal arts education. For more information, visit www.mec.cuny.edu.
This announcement originally appeared on the Pace University blog.
Every year the Women’s Media Group* provides one of our Publishing students with a $4,000 scholarship for the Spring semester and a three-year membership to their organization.
Yaritza Santana
To qualify for the scholarship, interested students write a brief leadership essay where they share their commitment to publishing and media (whether through school literary magazines or newspapers, audio/visual broadcasts, internships, work experience, creative projects, or other avenues) and provide an example of their demonstrated leadership and interest in promoting written and/or visual literacy, diversity, and amplification of underrepresented voices in the media. This year there were seven applicants.
In December, the scholarship and a three-year WMG membership was awarded by the WMG Scholarship Committee to Yaritza Santana for her outstanding essay.
Congratulations, Yaritza!
*The Women’s Media Group is a New York City-based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in the many fields of media. Our members—drawn primarily from print and digital book, magazine, and newspaper publishing; film and television; and online and other digital media—meet to collaborate with, learn from, inform, and support one another. The organization is also dedicated to mentoring young women interested in pursuing media careers.
New York, NY - May 11, 2022
The Women’s Media Group (WMG), a New York City-based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in publishing and many fields of media, has selected its new Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 term and established a new financial award to support young women from diverse backgrounds pursuing media careers.
Among the officers are Co-Presidents Jennifer A. Perry and Charlie Schroder, both rising from other board positions, and Christen Pruitt, the first former WMG Scholar to assume a board position in the organization’s almost 50-year history.
Women's Media Group Board of Directors for 2022–23
Jennifer A. Perry (Barnes & Noble), Co-President
Charlie Schroder (Scribd), Co-President
Julie Blattberg (Publishing Consultant), President Emerita
Jodi Brockington (Niara Consulting), Board Member at Large
Christina Cerio (Freckled Media), Business Manager
Brittany Fuller (Content Creator), Communications Chair
Ashley Gordon (Hewlett Packard), Fundraising Co-Chair
Nevin Mays (Nevin Mays Editorial), Scholarships Chair
Mary McAveney (Open Road Media), Fundraising Co-Chair
Christy Mirabal (SiriusXM), Treasurer
Christen Pruitt (Cannabiz Media), Secretary
Kathy Sandler (Penguin Random House), President Emerita
Chandra Turner (The Talent Fairy), Membership Chair
Jane Wesman (Jane Wesman PR), Programming Chair
Co-Presidents Jennifer A. Perry and Charlie Schroder also announced the establishment of the WMG Presidents Emeritae Award, “This new annual award strengthens and expands WMG’s longstanding mission to provide financial aid to women with diverse backgrounds pursuing careers in any aspect of publishing or media. Named in tribute to outgoing leaders Julie Blattberg and Kathy Sandler and intended to honor the commitment of all past presidents, the Presidents Emeritae Award is structured to enable WMG to address a situationally specific need or current priorities of our membership.” In 2021, WMG disbursed over $25,000 to students enrolled at the City University of New York, Columbia University, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York University, and Pace University.
To learn more about Women’s Media Group, visit www.womensmediagroup.org or contact us via our communication channels below:
LinkedIn - Women’s Media Group
Twitter - @WMG_NYC
Instagram - womensmediagroup
Facebook- Women’s Media Group
Email - info@womenesmediagroup.org
ABOUT US
Women’s Media Group, founded in 1973, is a New York City-based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in many media fields. Our 500+ members—drawn from books, magazines, news, and digital publishing; film, television, and audio; and all forms of digital media—join together to collaborate, inform, and support one another, as well as to mentor young women who will become media leaders of the future. We seek to advance the impact of all women through the power of communication and media.
The Women’s Media Group (WMG), a New York–based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in the many fields of media, has finalized its new board and is pleased to welcome five new members as well as chart a path for continued connection and development.
The new board for 2020–21 will be helmed by Kathy Sandler, who begins her second term as Co-President, and Julie Blattberg, former Chair of the Programming Committee, and now Co-President. Former Co-President Dee Dee DeBartlo will serve as President Emerita, and will continue to play a key role in shaping WMG programming and fundraising efforts.
"For the coming Women’s Media Group board term, we’re building on the foundation that former Co-President Dee Dee DeBartlo set in motion,” said Sandler. “Namely, we’ll continue creating opportunities for women to help each other, and we’ll focus on growing and diversifying our membership along a number of key areas, as the definition of ‘media’ has evolved over the past decade."
New members joining the board include Heather Alexander as Secretary; Stephanie Bowen, who has been an active member of the Programming Committee, now as official Programming Committee Co-Chair; Chandra Turner as head of Membership; Kelly Hoey as General Board Member; and Brianna Yamashita as Communications Lead. Former General Board Member Candi Sue Cross has the new role of Co-Chair of the Programming Committee.
For the immediate future, Sandler and Blattberg say they will focus on creating programs and opportunities that will help WMG members connect virtually. “Though in-person educational, networking, and fundraising events are at the core of WMG membership benefits, we are—as every other organization and business is—taking our programming online, and keeping strong ties among the community with our newsletter and on public and private digital channels,” said Blattberg.
The Women’s Media Group started in the early 1970s when a group of 5 women—friends and publishing colleagues Joni Evans, Judith Daniels, Elizabeth Crow, Eden Lipson, and Carol Rinzler—began meeting for lunch every now and then to talk about their jobs, their lives, their plans and hopes for the future. They eventually formed a club, and the Women’s Media Group was born.
Almost five decades later, the group Evans helped found has grown and evolved; it continues to be a thriving network whose mission is to empower women and help them rise. Much has changed in the business of content and culture during the past 46 years, and those changes are reflected in the group’s membership, which now brings together professionals from a range of fields, including book, magazine, and newspaper publishing; film; television; and digital media—to meet, collaborate, inform, and support one another, and mentor young women interested in publishing-related careers.
To learn more about Women’s Media Group, visit www.womensmediagroup.org
NEW YORK, NY (January 07, 2020) - The Women’s Media Group (WMG), the New York-based nonprofit organization, has established a scholarship for students who participate in the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Center for Publishing Summer Publishing Institute (SPI). Each year, the $4,000 scholarship will be awarded to an admitted SPI participant who "demonstrates leadership qualities and a commitment to publishing and media."
SPI 2020 will take place June 1 to July 10, 2020, in lower Manhattan. Students who apply by the January 31, 2020, priority registration deadline will be eligible to apply for the scholarship. The scholarship recipient will be notified in April 2020.
Published in Publisher's Weekly on Jan 07, 2020.
NEW YORK, NY (September 12, 2018) - The Women’s Media Group hosted a panel, ‘Leveraging Trends in Audiobook Publishing’ featuring audiobook leaders and pioneers including: Beth Anderson, Audible EVP and Publisher; Nita Basu, Senior Marketing and Publicity Coordinator, Hachette Audio; Amanda D’Acierno, President and Publisher, Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group; and Mary Beth Roche, President and Publisher, Macmillan Audio; moderated by Robin Whitten of AudioFile magazine.
Panelists: From l. to r.: Amanda D’Acierno, Nita Basu, Mary Beth Roche and Beth Anderson
“Audiobooks are here. I no longer have to explain what audiobooks are,” said Robin Whitten, who founded AudioFile magazine 25 years ago, as she introduced the panel. ”Audiobooks are the top publishing format of the year” she said, and cited an increase in both the number of audiobooks published, from 12,000 audiobooks published in 2012 to over 46,000 audio books published in 2017, and a 22% growth in sales dollars in 2017.
Panel Moderator: Robin Whitten, Audiofile magazine
“2 billion hours of audio were downloaded on Audible last year,” said Audible EVP and Publisher Beth Anderson. She added that “audiobook listeners are readers, they listen everywhere, and book consumption goes up after they join Audible.”
Asked where the next areas of growth and opportunity for audiobooks might be, Anderson said that smart speakers, meaning devices such as Alexa and Google Home, are an “exciting space to watch” and that she foresees growth in children’s books and in the international and global markets as well.
Mary Beth Roche, President and Publisher of Macmillan Audio, focused on the audiobook connection to podcasting. She said that listeners were “reintroduced to the spoken word by podcasting,” and that “podcasting can support authors and help to broaden an author’s platform.”
“When is it a podcast, when is it an audiobook? They're complementary - some audiobooks are now launched as podcasts” she said.
Panelists were asked about exciting new and forthcoming audiobooks. Books mentioned included memoirs from Michelle Obama, the Beastie Boys, Sally Field, Roger Daltrey, and a performance by Patti Smith.
Mary Beth Roche was excited about the novels Baby Teeth by Zoje Sage, and The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, and gave away free audiobook download cards of the books to attendees of the luncheon.
Robin Whitten of AudioFile magazine is enthusiastic about her new podcast called ‘Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine.’ The podcast is a different format for her for covering the world of audiobooks.
Also mentioned was a Stormy Daniels memoir coming out next month, news of which had been announced on ABC’s The View earlier in the day. The book, Full Disclosure, will be published by St. Martin’s Press.
Another audiobooks news item mentioned by the panel was that new Apple Watch will be audiobook compatible. That news served to underscore an underlying theme of the luncheon, that the audiobooks boom is and will be taking place in all sorts of spaces - from phones to watches, to smart speakers to cars.
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Wakelet Tweet Thread Created by Women’s Media Group Board Member Kathy Sandler of Penguin Random House - Contains More Photos and Quotes:
https://wakelet.com/wake/325f12b6-0964-4aa5-9865-0765ab99327a
Additional Reading and Resources on Audiobooks:
Behind the Mic Podcast with AudioFile Magazine
AudioFile Magazine
The Audio Publishers Association
http://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial-2018/
https://www.statista.com/topics/3296/audiobooks/
https://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/audiobook-trends-and-statistics-for-2017
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamrowe1/2018/08/31/audiobooks-are-officially-the-publishing-industrys-2018-trend/#4ec35ed65e8f
https://www.techradar.com/news/audibles-new-apple-watch-app-puts-your-favorite-audiobooks-on-your-wrist
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susannah Greenberg Susannah Greenberg Public Relations 646.801.7477 / publicity@bookbuzz.com
The Women’s Media Group, founded in 1973, is a New York-based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in many fields of media. Its 250-plus members, drawn from book, magazine, and newspaper publishing; film, television, online and other digital media, meet, collaborate, inform and support one another as well as mentor young women interested in publishing careers. It seeks to advance the position of all women through the power of communication and media.
It provides a forum for networking, career development and advocacy. Activities include monthly meetings, seminars, cultural events. The group also runs a college fellowship for minority women.
WMG is proud of the accomplishments and diversity of its members and seeks to advance the position of all women through the power of communication and media.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Women's Media Group PO Box 2119 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 info@womensmediagroup.org
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