Features
IWMF Announces 2008 Courage in Journalism Award Winners
The International Women's Media Foundation today announced the winners of 2008 Courage in Journalism Awards:
- Farida Nekzad, Afghanistan. Nekzad frequently receives phone calls and email messages threatening her life but remains committed to work toward a free press and greater equality for women journalists.
- Sevgul Uludag, Cyprus. A journalist for nearly three decades, Uludag has covered missing people and mass graves for both Turkish and Greek newspapers in Cyprus. She has received death threats and has been the subject of hate campaigns for her investigative reporting.
A third woman journalist has also won a Courage Award; her name will be released at a later date due to concerns for her safety.
The IWMF will also honor Edith Lederer with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. Lederer, chief correspondent at the United Nations for the Associated Press, was the first female resident correspondent in Vietnam in 1972. She has worked on every continent except Antarctica since she began her journalism career in 1966.
This year's awards will be presented at ceremonies in Los Angeles on October 16 and New York on October 21. Award winners will attend a reception and panel discussion in Washington, D.C., on October 9.
- Click here to read the press release.
- Learn more about or help support the Courage Awards.
IWMF Names 2008-09 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow
The International Women's Media Foundation announced today that Jenny Manrique, a Colombian freelance journalist, has received the 2008-09 IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship. The annual fellowship gives a woman journalist working in print, broadcast or online media the opportunity to focus exclusively on human rights journalism and social justice issues.
Manrique writes for Comunicaciones Aliadas, a non-governmental online magazine based in Peru that focuses on Latin American news, particularly human rights. She has covered subjects such as kidnapping, drug trafficking and refugees and hopes to investigate Colombian paramilitaries and their ties with multinational corporations during her IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship.
- Click here to read more about Manrique in the press release.
- Learn more about the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship.
- Help support this program.
Sally Sara Concludes Stint as IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow
Sally Sara, an anchor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has completed her year as the 2007-08 IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow. She is now traveling in Asia conducting research for a new book. Before she left, Sara visited the IWMF and spoke about her experiences as the Neuffer Fellow.
- Watch video clips of Sally Sara talking about her time as the IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow.
- Click here to read more about Sara.
- Learn more about the IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship.
- Help support the IWMF Elizabeth Neuffer Fund.
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Leading Generation Y in the Newsroom
by Lindsey Wray
Woodstock meets American Idol.
Baby Boomers and people from Generation Y sharing a newsroom is like this strange encounter. But just because your musical tastes are miles away from your colleague's doesn’t mean your work styles have to clash.
News gathering is already a frenzied operation. Striking a balance between generations can help everyone work toward the goal of effectively bringing the news to the public.
Members of Generation Y bring a particular set of strengths and a new set of challenges to the workforce. Born after 1978, they were shaped by historical events such as 9/11 and the Columbine High School shootings and grew up using technology such as iPods and TiVo.
So, how does this translate to the newsroom?
Members of Generation Y:
1) Want feedback – Generation Yers were raised with positive reinforcement and have high self-esteem. They seek guidance – positive and negative – to keep them on the right track.
2) Seek expert, organized bosses who don't intimidate – Because they were heavily parented and programmed throughout their school years, their time was largely managed by others. They're looking for open-minded leaders who will mentor them instead of threaten them.
3) Are success-oriented – Generation Yers often come from families with parents who encouraged and recognized achievement. They ask a lot of questions because they, too, want to succeed, not because they’re trying to be annoying.
4) Are tech-savvy – Whether it’s video games, the Internet or cell phones, technology has always been a part of their lives. They're comfortable using it both in their personal lives and in the newsroom.
5) Are accustomed to immediacy – Members of Generation Y are accustomed to receiving instant gratification through e-mail, instant messaging and digital cameras. This facility, if well managed, can help with quality news coverage.
6) Are tolerant of differences – Generation Y members embrace diversity, from ethnicity to sexual orientation.
Knowing these traits will help leaders understand Generation Y journalists in the newsroom, but Generation Y journalists should also know how to manage their Baby Boomer and Generation X bosses. Here are some tips for managing up the generational ladder:
1) Be patient – Generation Yers may think they know the ins and outs of a particular career, but they should be open to on-the-job training.
2) Understand and appreciate company history – Baby Boomers and Generation Xers have simply been in the workplace longer than Generation Yers, and they have ideas and expertise to share.
3) Realize dedication – Older employees have worked hard to get where they are and are often loyal to their companies.
4) Be willing to learn – Though technologically savvy, members of Generation Y should be willing to learn that Baby Boomers and Generation Xers have many other skill sets to offer. Even in a newsroom, not all skills are digital.
This article was based on a workshop conducted by Jill Geisler, Leadership and Management Group Leader at the Poynter Institute, for the 2007 International Women's Media Foundation U.S. Leadership Institute in Chicago. For more information on the next leadership institute, visit www.iwmf.org/programs/leadership.
Lindsey Wray is the IWMF's communications coordinator.