Elisa Lees Muñoz Named Acting IWMF Executive Director
Elisa Lees Muñoz has been named as the International Women's Media Foundation's Acting Executive Director.
Lees Muñoz brings over 20 years of experience as a human rights activist leading organizations that promote the engagement, training and leadership of women in the news media around the world. She will take over with the departure of Liza Gross, who is leaving to develop a hemisphere-wide gender initiative.
“I am very pleased to welcome Elisa into this role,” said Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., co-chair of the IWMF, “She brings a passionate understanding of our mission and a deep knowledge of our operation and programs.”
Katty Kay, co-chair of the IWMF added, “Elisa will build on the many successes of Liza Gross. The whole of the IWMF would like to thank Liza for her leadership over the past three years and wish her well.”
“I am honored by the trust that the board is placing in me,” said Lees Muñoz, “I look forward to leading our team in delivering our promise to support women journalists and working with IWMF Board members Christiane Amanpour and Cynthia McFadden, who will lead the selection of this year’s Courage in Journalism and Lifetime Achievement Award winners and who will co-host the New York Courage ceremony in October.”
The IWMF will be conducting a formal search to fill the IWMF Executive Director position. | |
|
Mexican Senate Approves Amendment Making Attacks on Press a Federal Crime
The Mexican Senate has approved a constitutional amendment making it a federal offense to attack the press. If passed by a majority of states, the amendment would give national authorities the power to investigate these crimes.
The amendment would federal officials to investigate and punish criminals for attacks on journalists and others expressing their right to free expression.
The vote comes nearly four years after Mexican President Felipe Calderón vowed to push for the implementation of the measure. Research by the Committee to Protect Journalists shows that more than 40 journalists have been killed of disappeared since he took office.
"This is a legislative milestone that has been years in the making," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "We congratulate the Mexican Senate and President Calderón on this achievement. At the same time, we note that it is only one step in the fight against impunity, a fight that will not be won until the killers of journalists are tried and sentenced."
Read more.
| |
|
Stunning Images of Pakistan Army From Embedded Photog, Reporter
Embedded with the Pakistani Army, Associated Press photographer Anja Niedringhaus and reporter Kathy Gannon captured amazing stories for the new AP photo blog.
In early February they joined the troops as the first two foreign journalists ever to embed with the Pakistan military.
Niedringhaus, an IWMF Courage in Journalism Award, winner discusses her hotos on the AP blog | |
|
Tsering Woeser Ordered Under House Arrest, Barred From Receiving Award
IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner Tsering Woeser, a Tibetan writer and blogger, is under a month-long house arrest and has been barred from collecting an award from the Netherlands Embassy in Beijing.
On her social networking page, Woeser wrote that she was invited to receive her 2011 Prince Claus Award at a dinner reception at the Netherlands Embassy. On the eve of the private ceremony, officials from the Beijing Public Security Bureau arrived at her doorstep and issued orders barring her from visiting the embassy.
“They (state security police) said I could not go to the Netherlands Embassy tomorrow. They also said: for the month of March I would not be able to go out. If I wanted to go out it would have to be with them following along,” Woeser wrote.
Read more here. | |
|