From the IWMF Executive Director
From the IWMF Co-Chairs

This year the International Women’s Media Foundation continued working through its worldwide network of women journalists to elevate the status of women in the media.

Based on the belief that “no press is truly free unless women share an equal voice,” the IWMF has made high priorities of strengthening women’s networks and training women journalists in ways that help them advance in their careers. Since its founding in 1990, the IWMF has conducted training programs on five continents and in 22 countries. In many of those locations, IWMF programs were the only training opportunities offered specifically to women journalists.

The IWMF also supports a worldwide free press by advocating for women journalists in dangerous and often life-threatening circumstances. The main vehicle for this support is the annual IWMF Courage in Journalism Awards program, the only international awards that recognize the bravery of women journalists. Established shortly after the IWMF was founded in 1990, the Courage awards shine a light on the lack of press freedom around the world. Courage winners have faced ostracism, prison terms, beatings, rape and death threats. Still, they continue their work reporting the news because they share a deep commitment to uncovering the truth in any given situation.

Other highlights of our worldwide commitment this year include:

With generous support from the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the IWMF sponsored a series of one-day training workshops designed to help women journalists in the United States become leaders in their newsrooms.

In Africa, with a generous grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the IWMF began a three-year program to improve the quality and increase the coverage of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis on that continent. In addition, working through the African Women’s Media Center, a project of the IWMF, we continued our ground-breaking training for women journalists.

Our future plans will build on and expand these fine programs.

The IWMF also experienced a major transition this year. Sherry Rockey, who for nine years led the organization as executive director, left to pursue new opportunities. Sherry helped us build our dream, and we are very grateful to have had her vision. We wish her well in her new endeavors.

Lisa Woll joined the IWMF as executive director on September 15, 2003, replacing Sherry Rockey. Lisa brings impressive non-profit and international credentials to the job. She has worked extensively around the globe on human rights issues. She was the director of the first international study to look at the impact of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Lisa has also founded a number of women’s organizations promoting job skills for women and was named “Washingtonian of the Year” by Washingtonian Magazine for her non-profit efforts. We are very excited about working with Lisa, and are confident that her leadership, creativity and experience are exactly what the IWMF needs to grow and develop.

Our future is bright and expansive and, armed with a great staff team and a dedicated, hardworking board, we are ready to move toward it.

Marcy McGinnis

Lynn Povich