Lesley Abdela was named the 2009 UK Woman Political Journalist of the Year as part of the Women In Public Life Awards. Awardees were chose by votes of the Parliamentary Press Lobby, Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords. Abdela was in Iraq to help advance women’s democracy in the new Iraqi Constitution. She is also an international gender/post-conflict reconstruction expert. The awards, now in their third year, aim to highlight the achievements of outstanding women role models. Read more about Abdela and other winners.

The traditional anchorman is becoming a minority and newscasts are getting female makeovers. An article in The Boston Globe credits budget cuts, loss of industry veterans and changes in direction at news stations for allowing women to move into more prominent roles. Read the Boston Globe article.

Roxana Saberi, an American freelance journalist, has been detained in Iran since late January. Saberi, who has reported for NPR, the BBC and other media outlets, is being held in Evin prison in Tehran, where political prisoners are routinely detained. The IWMF is concerned that Saberi’s detainment signals more restrictions on press freedom in Iran and is urging the Iranian government to release her.

• Add your signature to our petition for Saberi's release.
  *Note: Your name and e-mail address will be collected by the IWMF but will not be published on our Web site.
• Help the IWMF continue to support women in the news media worldwide.

American journalist Roxana Saberi was convicted by an Iranian court in April of spying for the U.S. and sentenced to eight years in prison. Saberi was...

May 1 is the deadline for applications from U.S.-based women journalists for the sixth annual U.S. Leadership Institute for Women Journalists. This year’s institute will convene 20 mid-to-upper level women journalists for on-the-ground leadership training on July 20-22 in Chicago. During these three days, participants will:

• Take part in highly interactive skills-building sessions on issues crucial to effective leadership;
• Participate in small “mastermind groups” on topics participants have expressed an interest in within written questionnaires and essays submitted prior to the on-site;
• Develop a personalized action plan for future career goals; and
• Network with colleagues from across the country.

Thanks to support from the McCormick Foundation, the IWMF is offering the U.S. Leadership Institute for Women Journalists at no cost this year.

• Read the press release.
• Click here to apply.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 16, 2009 For more information:Lindsey Wray202-496-1992LWray@iwmf.org IWMF Calls for Applications for Sixth Annual U.S. Le...

 

In order to complete your application to the U.S Leadership Institute for Women Journalists, you must submit the following materials. Applications will not be considered without this information:

• Statement explaining what you hope to gain from the U.S Leadership Institute for Women Journalists, how you expect to apply this knowledge in your newsroom and how this program fits with your current responsibilities and long-term career goals.
• Current resume.
• Brief professional bio (no more than two paragraphs, please).
• Letter of recommendation/support from your supervisor detailing your strengths and why this course is appropriate for your professional development. Supervisors should email their letters of support to programs@iwmf.org.
• To apply for a $500 travel stipend for minority women journalists, submit a statement explaining your qualifications and financial need. Please indicate if your ability to attend the Leadership Institute will be dependent on receiving a travel stipend.

 

IWMF board member Peggy White is joining the Slate group as publisher of its new online women's magazine, Double X.  Read more about it.

USC's Annenberg Institute for Justice and Journalism is seeking ten  journalists who regularly cover ethnic communities or racial justice for environmental justice fellowships. Read the announcement.

Former journalist Jestina Mukoko , who was abducted at dawn by Zimbabwean security agents three months ago, was released from a Zimbabwean jail on Monday. The IWMF advocated for her release. Read the New York Times article.

The International Center for Journalists has two fellowships for young journalists who wish to report from Germany and Austria. Deadeline is March 1. For more information, visit www.icfj.org/burns or www.icfj.org/austria

The International Center for Foreign Journalists offers two fellowships for young journalists who want to report from German and Austria. For more information, visits www.icjf.org/burns and www.icfj.org/austria.

 

The International Center for Journalists offers several opportunities for young journalists to report from Germany and Austria. Deadline is March 1. For more information, visit www.icfj.org/austria and www.icfj.org/burns.

Alifiya Khan, a twenty-four year old correspondent at The Hindustan Times has won the Anupama Jayaraman Award for her reporting on human rights and social justice. For further details, contact the Network of Women in Media, India at award.aj@gmail.com.

Reporting on Agriculture and Women: Africa in Mali, Uganda and Zambia