The IWMF Receives $1M Grant for Equity in Reporting from CBS Corporation

Funding Supports the Retention and Growth of Female Journalists

[December 14, 2018 – WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) today received landmark funding from the CBS Corporation (CBS) to provide opportunities and safety training for female journalists. With $1 million pledged to the IWMF, the industry-leading organization supporting women in media will grow its global pipeline of female journalists and foster more female leadership in newsrooms worldwide.

In disbursing a series of grants, CBS chose organizations with established impact fostering equity and meaningful opportunities for women. CBS’ selection of the IWMF is due to the organization’s unique offerings that address the barriers facing women in news media and the work the IWMF does to ensure female journalists can work safely.

“The IWMF is thrilled that CBS chose to support our organization’s work when it comes to gender equity and diversity in journalism,” said Elisa Lees Muñoz, Executive Director of the IWMF. “Our trainings, fellowships and reporting trips have propelled the careers of thousands of female journalists in underserved and under-represented communities. This funding will increase our impact in breaking, and preventing, barriers for women across the scope of news media.”

During this critical time for the equitable treatment of female journalists, the IWMF will use this funding to expand its programming and reach in four critical areas:

  • Digital safety: Addressing online harassment and intimidation tactics
  • Physical safety: Offering tools to assess and react to dangerous and hostile environments
  • Professional development: Developing resources to propel career-enhancing opportunities for female journalists of color and from underserved areas
  • Leadership: Creating a curriculum for safer and more equitable newsrooms with focus areas of mentorship and training

The IWMF will celebrate it’s 30th year of service to the journalism industry in 2019. In 2018 alone, the organization supported more than 260 journalists through grants and fellowships, published more than 230 stories, awarded more than $400,000 in grants, and ran fellowships with funding upwards of $2 million.

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Media Contact:

Charlotte Fox, Director of Communications

cfox@iwmf.org – (202) 567-2615

About the International Women’s Media Foundation

Founded in 1990, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, reporting opportunities and funding avenues offered specifically for female journalists. We are making more women’s bylines possible and work tirelessly to ensure a greater diversity of voices represented in the news industry worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, and Instagram on @TheIWMF.