FY 2000-2001 Annual Report
Making Connections

The International Women's Media Foundation is about making connections. Those connections start with the women who are at the heart of the IWMF, thousands of whom share their work triumphs and aspirations with one another at IWMF-sponsored programs, through IWMF publications and over the IWMF's website. The IWMF designs programs to give women in the media the crucial tools they need to become better journalists and to aspire to media leadership. The IWMF network -- more than 1,300 women in the media around the world -- is about creating connections among women in the media so that they can share resources and make their voices heard.

The International Women's Media Foundation grew from a gathering of women journalists from around the world who met in 1990 in Washington, DC for News in the Nineties, a conference examining the changing state of the media in a rapidly changing world. At that time, women from 50 countries assessed their position in a world whirling rapidly into the future. They decided it was time for an international organization that would link women in the media and help them with their aspirations for more responsibility in their profession and more opportunities to create better societies in which to live.

Over the next ten years, the IWMF established training, networking and support programs. These were held in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the former Soviet Union, as well as in the United States.

In 1990, the IWMF established the Courage in Journalism Awards, the only awards program that honors the work of international women journalists. Once a year, in October, the IWMF turns the spotlight on these uncompromising journalists. Since the launch of the Courage in Journalism Awards, 35 journalists have been honored. Some winners have accepted their awards while serving unjust prison sentences because they angered dictators. Some have accepted their awards with the literal scars from their fight against tyranny and injustice visible on their faces. All have spoken eloquently of their commitment to reporting the truth as the legacy they want to leave for their children, their families and their societies.

In 1997, the IWMF established the African Women's Media Center, based in Dakar, Senegal. The only continent-wide organization for women journalists, the AWMC has pioneered innovative programs to train African women journalists as leaders in their profession and on their continent. The AWMC, one of the most vibrant networks in Africa, has also established a reputation for practical and thorough programs and publications.

The IWMF is committed to a vision of news media in which women play significant roles, not only at the top ranks, but at all levels of the media business.

Since its beginning, the IWMF has reached out to Latin American women journalists. This year, women journalists from every region of Latin America had the opportunity to help shape the IWMF's future on that continent. Meeting in three cities -- Managua, Nicaragua; Buenos Aires, Argentina and Quito, Ecuador -- Latin American women journalists told the IWMF that they wanted more communication with each other and with the rest of the world, and more opportunities for training to help them excel in their profession. The results of these meetings -- which also included leadership-training workshops -- will be used by the IWMF to develop its newest long-term commitment: a Latin American Initiative.

The IWMF network continues to grow, with two websites (www.iwmf.org and www.awmc.com), a directory of women journalists that is published every two years, two newsletters and an electronic e-wire. In addition, the IWMF sponsors two listserves to keep members of the network connected to one another.