IWMF Leadership Conference Calls For More Role Models, Networking

Not enough women at the top for role modeling; not enoinstitutionalonal support for professional women in media with responsibilities outside of the workplace; having to demonstrate long-held acumen over and over again. These are the challenges facing women journalists the world over, according to panel discussions, audience participation and an anecdotal survey released at "Women and News Media: A Focus on Leadership," a conference held May 21-23 in Washington and organized by the International Women's Media Foundation. More than 100 journalists from 60 countries attended.

Reality Crime TV: Perpetuating 'Women-as-Victim" Fears

"Reality-based" crime shows blur fact and fiction in reenactments of actual crimes. Researchers from universities in Arizona and New Mexico conducted a study that focused on depiction of women crime victims in these programs, comparing their results with an earlier study targuedrged that the programs empower women to speak about their victimization and with other studies that suggest that such programs make women fearful. "Reality crime presentations parallel the stereotypic depictions of crcriminalsinals and victims in crime news: Crimes are violent, criminals are menvictimsictms often are women," say the authors. "Such coverage, whether in reality crime programs, on the news, or in crime drama, may contribute to women's fear of crime. The heightened sense that reality crime programs portray real life may magnify viewers' fears and stereotypes."

Overheard at the Feminist Expo: Views on Content, Careers and Media of Our Own

The Second Feminist Expo this past spring attracted 6,000 attendees for three days of panel discussions and keynote addresses in Baltimore. The Expo was organized by the Feminist Majority and was cosponsored by 575 other women's organizations. The attendees represented more than 140 delegations from 65 countries. Several of the panels dealt with women/girls and media. The panels were lively and enriched by audience Q&A. In keeping with MRTW's longtime philosophy of having women speak for themselves, this issue includes selected comments of the panelists who spoke on these issues.

Beijing + 5 Reviews of Progress on Women And Media Call for More Action, Monitoring

Analyses of progress made since the U.N.-sponsored Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 offer little to be truly pleased about since the adoption of Section J of the Platform for Action signed by representatives of 189 countries at the conference's conclusion. The platform identified 12 areas of concern. Section J of the platform addresses problems with women and media.

Plus News Briefs, People, Book Reviews and Commentary

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