The Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation Announce the 2021 Board of Directors and Officers

In its 70^th year since inception, the Alliance for Women in Media and its Foundation (AWM/F) are pleased to announce their 2021 National Board of Directors. New to the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Board are: Kenetta Bailey, senior vice president, marketing, Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO); Marsha Cooke, senior vice president, global news and special projects, Vice Media, LLC.; and, Melissa Wright, chief content officer, Twin Cities PBS (TPT). New to the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) Board are: Svetlana Gans, vice president & associate general counsel, NCTA, The Internet & Television Association; Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting; Josie Thomas, former chief diversity & inclusion officer, CBS; and Christine Travaglini, president, Katz Radio Group.

Officers of the board have been announced as Heather Cohen, executive vice president, The Weiss Agency, serving as chair, Annie Howell, chief communications officer, Crown Media Family Networks (Hallmark), serving as incoming chair, Keisha Sutton-James, vice president & CEO, Sutton Button Productions LLC, serving as immediate past chair, Joyce Fitch, legal consultant, serving as treasurer, and Brenda Hetrick, chief revenue officer, Matrix Solutions, serving as incoming treasurer. 

“The role of the AWM and Foundation boards is to lead our organizations and industry as we recognize, connect and educate women in all facets of media.  We have a true working Board,” stated Becky Brooks, president, AWM/F.  “As AWM celebrate its 70^th anniversary this year, it has never been more important to have strong, insightful leadership. This year’s new directors have voiced their dedication to donating time and resources to guide these organizations to the next level.  We are thrilled to have these talented, accomplished women joining our leadership for the next two years.”

The following individuals will continue to serve as Directors at Large of AWM: Katina Arnold, vice president, corporate communications, ESPN; Abby Auerbach, executive vice president, chief communications officer, TVB; Abby Greensfelder, founder & CEO, Everywoman Studios; Brenda Hetrick, chief revenue officer, Matrix Solutions; Michelle Ray, executive director, The Walter Kaitz Foundation; Sandra Rice, senior vice president, outreach and strategic partnerships, Center for Talent Innovation; Esther-Mireya Tejeda, chief marketing & communications officer, SoundExchange;and, Katherine Wolfgang, head of public relations, CBC. Deborah Parenti, publisher, RadioInk, RBR and TVBR will continue to serve as a Director at Large of AWMF.

AWMF is also pleased to announce that AWM/F board members Heather Cohen, Annie Howell and Mike McVay will continue to serve as chairs for the Gracie Awards. Learn more about the Gracie Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/.

As AWM kicks off its 70^th anniversary celebrations, there are ways to stay involved. Follow AWM’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, sign up for the FastForward Newsletter, and enjoy the growing range of member benefits by becoming a member of AWM today.

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About the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM): The Alliance for Women in Media connects, recognizes and inspires women across the media industry. AWM is a diverse community – whether type of media, job or global location – that facilitates industry-wide collaboration, education, and innovation. Established in 1951 as American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), AWM is the longest-established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment. AWM harnesses the promise, passion and power of women in all forms of media to empower career development, engage in thought leadership, and drive positive change for our industry and societal progress.

About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF): In 1960, the Alliance for Women in Media became the first professional broadcasting organization to establish an educational foundation. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, honoring exemplary programming created by, for or about women and individual achievement. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about the Gracie Awards and to submit your entries, please visit www.allwomeninmedia.org/gracies.

Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Extends Deadline for the 2021 Gracie Award Entries and Announces New Categories

Foundation announces Gracies Gala postponed to September and Gracies Luncheon postponed to July

January 12, 2021 (New York City/Los Angeles) – The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) has announced that the deadline to submit entries for the 46^th Annual Gracie Awards at the regular rate has been extended until January 21, 2021. AWMF is also offering a further extended deadline of January 28, 2021 at an additional cost.  The Gracie Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, celebrate programming and individual achievement by, for and about women in television, radio and digital media. Submissions from all facets of media are encouraged.

Journalists have continued to work tirelessly on the front lines to provide coverage of the unprecedented events in the first two weeks of 2021. Due to the bravery of these storytellers and the timeliness of this important coverage, AWMF has added ten new categories specifically dedicated to January 2021 Frontline Special Reports for on-air talent and programming in television, radio and digital media. A full list of the new categories can be found here.

“We know the circumstances of the past year led to delivering content to audiences in ways we never expected, which is why we are more committed than ever to honoring the remarkable work that has been created by, for and about women,” says Becky Brooks, AWMF executive director. “As our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Gracie Awards enable the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation to deliver on its promise of furthering the connection, education and recognition of women in media, even during turbulent times.”

The Gracie Awards Gala, previously scheduled for May 2021, has been postponed to September 20, 2021, and the Gracie Awards Luncheon, previously scheduled for June 2021, has been postponed to July 21, 2021. The Gala will still be held at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel, and the Luncheon will still be held at Cipriani 42nd St in New York, N.Y.  AWMF extends their gratitude to Cipriani and the Beverly Wilshire for their incredible partnerships.

The 2021 Gracie Awards entry eligibility air dates for the traditional categories are from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. New Categories are exclusive to January of 2021. Entry details, including pricing and updated categories, can be viewed at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries/.

The application to judge content for The Gracie Awards is available until January 22, 2021. Learn more about Gracies judging and view the application at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/judging/.

About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation: In 1960, the Alliance for Women in Media became the first professional broadcasting organization to establish an educational foundation. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, a gala that honors exemplary programming created by, for or about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about the Gracie Awards and to submit your entries, please visit www.allwomeninmedia.org/gracies.

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The Year in Review

By Becky Brooks, AWM/F Executive Director

Wow – what a year! We are closing out twelve months at a time when most of us can use the phrase, “if someone had told me eight months ago we would…” fill in the blank. The silver lining? There are few times in history where a single event, or experience, has impacted nearly everyone in some way. There is some measure of comfort in that all of us are living with the same uncertainty…and hope.    

In past “Year in Review” reflections, I recall events that took place throughout the year — those moments, by the time we get to December, we forgot happened and the role media played in the storytelling. In the spirit of not “doing things just because we’ve always done them” – I won’t walk down 2020’s memory lane!

What should stay the same, however, is the importance of celebrating storytellers. 2020 was an opportunity for journalists to put into action what we’ve known is true and hadn’t seen to even these extremes – to share the must-tell stories however and from wherever they could – basements, front rooms of apartments, in the streets and everywhere in between. Our connection to media, in every form, was even more powerful in a year that brought a pandemic, social justice movement and a challenging presidential election.

And we have a heightened need to connect with others in person.

Speaking for myself, this lack of connection is real and it’s hard. We have two kids who are attending school virtually since March while my husband and I work from home. As I said at the beginning, if someone told us eight months ago our kids wouldn’t walk the halls of a school and we would work from home through the end of the year – oh, and pulling off events virtually for the first time ever – we would have had a good laugh over the absurdity! Yet we did it. We have enjoyed breathing for a minute when not at a soccer game that was cancelled or swim meet we watched online – and remembered to enjoy every minute of cross country and activities outside.

So, while we don’t want to ignore that things are hard – it’s taught us more in a short period of time than imaginable. We are courageous and tenacious albeit weary. One of my favorite stories of courage is that of the founders of AWM. We celebrate 70 years of AWM next year. Imagine the courage of those women signing an organization into existence in 1951! There were so few women in media roles at that time they formed a group to educate, connect and recognize others just like them.

As we look to turn the page into 2021, we invite you to join us in celebrating the courage of all women in media and supporting our journey. We will offer opportunities throughout the year to engage and recognize those who have inspired you. We need your financial support to keep doing the important work of creating programs, offering scholarships and recognizing the courageous storytellers. Please consider a donation to the Foundation, joining AWM, posting your jobs on our career center and entering for a Gracie. These are all ways to keep us active and thriving and we cannot do it without you.

I am so grateful for the amazing leadership of AWM and our partners who navigated and steered us through 2020 while looking forward to everything that is possible as we build on the lessons from this historic and unimaginable year!

Cheers to 2021!

Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Announces 46th Gracie Awards Call for Entries Open

The Gracie Awards, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF), has opened the call for entries for the 46th Annual Gracie Awards Gala and Gracie Awards Luncheon. AWMF is also pleased to announce Ziploc® Brand as the Diamond Sponsor of the 2021 Gracies.

“Each year, the Gracie Awards celebrate and honor truly exceptional content by, for and about women.  We know the circumstances of this year have made production much more difficult, which is why we are more committed than ever to honoring the remarkable work that has been created, especially with the important milestone of AWM’s 70th Anniversary coming up next year,” says Becky Brooks, AWMF executive director. “As our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Gracies enables the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation to deliver on its promise of furthering the connection, education and recognition of women in media, even during difficult times.”

Serving again as chairs for the 2021 Gracie Awards are Heather Cohen, executive vice president, The Weiss Agency and AWM/F Board member, Annie Howell, chief communications officer, Crown Media Family Networks and AWM/F Board member and Mike McVay, president, McVay Media Consulting. Vicangelo Bulluck, an Emmy Award-winning, seasoned veteran in awards production, has produced the Gracie Awards since 2016 and will return to produce the Gracie Awards in 2021.

The 2020 Gracie Awards were celebrated through an ongoing virtual experience. Highlights of the 2020 Virtual Gracies included honoring outstanding and powerful talent such as: Katy Perry as the Gracies Impact Award recipient; Danai Gurira of The Walking Dead; Gayle King of CBS News; Naomi Watts of The Loudest Voice; Juju Chang of ABC News’ Nightline; Angela Yee of Angela Yee’s Lip Service podcast; and, Natasha Lyonne, accepting on behalf of the producers of Russian Doll. Additionally, Dr. Sanjay Gupta delivered a Special Award Tribute to frontline journalists bringing COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter coverage to homes across the United States.  Malin Åkerman and many other presenters joined Susan Kelechi Watson, from This Is Us, as our host and Mickey Guyton as entertainment for the night. Footage from the virtual experiences can be found at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/2020-gracie-awards-content/.

The 2021 Gracie Awards entry eligibility air dates are from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Early Bird rates for entries end on December 10, 2020, at 11:59 PM Eastern. The deadline for all entries is January 14, 2021, at 11:59 PM Eastern. Entry details including pricing, updated categories can be viewed at https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/call-for-entries/. 

With the generous of support of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, the newly announced NCTA Gracies Scholarship will provide 10 scholarships to assist with the costs of Gracie entries. Learn more about the scholarship at https://allwomeninmedia.org/foundation/scholarships/.

To see more information about the Gracie Awards, visit https://allwomeninmedia.org/gracies/. The application to judge the Gracies will be available soon.

About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation: In 1960, the Alliance for Women in Media became the first professional broadcasting organization to establish an educational foundation. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, a gala that honors exemplary programming created by, for or about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about the Gracie Awards and to submit your entries, please visit www.allwomeninmedia.org/gracies.  

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Alliance for Women in Media Foundation & ESPN Launch Scholarship

ESPN’s donation of $10,000 will provide two educational scholarships to assist Black females pursuing careers in sports media

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) and ESPN are pleased to announce a new joint student scholarship. The mission of this partnership is to provide Black women a path into careers in sports media by assisting one female undergraduate student and one female graduate student in the United States, pursuing careers in sports media.

“It has been wonderful to collaborate with ESPN to conceptualize this scholarship,” said Becky Brooks, Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Executive Director. “Through this strong partnership, we’re proud to continue our work in pursuing greater diversity in the sports journalism work force.”

“Diversity and inclusion is ESPN’s #1 focus, and we want to support and create concrete ways to grow the pipeline of Black talent in the sports industry,” said Katina Arnold, Vice President, Corporate Communications at ESPN and Alliance for Women in Media Board Member. “The ESPN and AWMF scholarship is the perfect way to fulfill ESPN’s mission of supporting Black and African-American women pursuing careers in media.”

The selection of the student winners will be based on applicants developing an essay of 750 to 1,000 words, highlighting the importance of Black women in sports media.

Scholarship applications are due on November 20, 2020. AWMF and ESPN will select one upperclassman Black female undergraduate student winner and one Black female graduate student to receive the scholarships payable to each winning student’s educational institution. Each winner will also receive one complimentary ticket to the Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York City in June 2021. Learn more and apply on the AWMF website.

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About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation: In 1960, the Alliance for Women in Media became the first professional broadcasting organization to establish an educational foundation. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, honoring exemplary programming created by, for or about women and individual achievement. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about the Gracie Awards and to submit your entries, please visit www.allwomeninmedia.org/gracies.

About ESPN: ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment enterprise, features more than 50 assets – nine U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

THE 45th ANNUAL GRACIE AWARDS HONORED WOMEN IN MEDIA, INCLUDING KATY PERRY, GAYLE KING, NAOMI WATTS, DANAI GURIRA, TAMRON HALL AND MORE

Virtual Event Hosted by Susan Kelechi Watson Recognized Exemplary Programming Created by, for and about Women

Photo assets can be found [HERE]

Clips from the event can be found [HERE]

LOS ANGELES (September 10, 2020) – This evening, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) held the 45th annual Gracie Awards hosted by “This is Us” star Susan Kelechi Watson. This year, the Gracie Awards recognized more than 120 outstanding women and men in media for their bravery, determination and accomplishments, and recognized exemplary programming created by, for and about women.

Highlights from the awards show included the following:

• Katy Perry received the Gracies Impact Award for the positive influence on society through her music. “This is an incredible honor to have this award about women and helping support women, which is something I am so incredibly passionate about. I love to provide opportunities in my life, professional and personal, for women to do incredible jobs and work alongside with,” Perry said during her acceptance speech, noting that “one of the most important things is to have representation.”
• Country star Mickey Guyton performed her hit song “Heaven Down Here,” and for the first time ever performed “Without a Net,” an original song she had recorded to appear in the upcoming documentary “Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story.”
• Tamron Hall accepted her award for Best Talk Show and dedicated it to Breonna Taylor.
• Gayle King  was awarded the Best Special or Variety Program for her memorable interview with R. Kelly and mentioned during her speech that she would “love to sit down with him for another interview again” post-trial.
• Dr. Sanjay Gupta delivered a Special Award Tribute to frontline journalists bringing COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter coverage to homes across America, including from Norah O’Donnell, Debora Patta, and Martha Teichner from CBS; Kristen Dahlgren, Dasha Burns, Savannah Guthrie, and Blayne Alexander from NBC; CNN’s Brooke Baldwin; Los Angeles Times’ Molly Hennessy-Fiske; Paola Ramos and Isobel Yeung of Vice News.
• The Gracies recognized “Silent All These Years,” an episode of Grey’s Anatomy that dealt with sexual assault and rape. The episode resonated with women and had far-reaching effects — RAINN reported a 43% uptick in call volume to its National Sexual Assault Hotline in the immediate wake of the airing of this episode.
• Nightline’s co-anchor Juju Chang accepted their win for Best Hard News Feature for their story about trans women of color. “We wanted to tell the stories of these women who are not only under assault, but who’s stories are often ignored,” Chang said.
• Natasha Lyonne accepted for Best Producer – Entertainment for their Netflix series “Russian Doll,” on behalf of herself, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, giving a specific shoutout to Poehler saying, “[she] is such a leader in this field, who has single handedly changed the world and the scope of what we can do, how we hold the space for each other … it is such an honor to walk beside you.”
• Naomi Watts won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Drama for her portrayal as Gretchen Carlson in Showtime’s “The Loudest Voice.” She dedicated her award to Gretchen for her “incredible bravery and courage” noting it was “an honor” to tell her story.
• Angela Yee won for Best Podcast – Entertainment thanking the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation for the award, expressing “this is one of the highest honors we can have from other women who understand how empowering something like this is.”

Presenters for the awards included Malin Åkerman, Chelsea Gilligan, Angélica Vale; Cassie DiLaura, Erin Lim, Dr. Imani Walker, Elaina Doré Smith, Jacqueline Obradors, Julie Carmen and Medalion Rahimi.

Additional winners of the night included Danai Gurira of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Drama, , Stephanie Beatriz for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Comedy for her work in FOX’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Fiona Shaw for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Drama for “Killing Eve,” Niecy Nash for Best On-Air Talent for “Black Girls Rock,” NBC’s “Superstore” won for Best Ensemble Cast with Lauren Ash accepting, and many more.

“We are honored to celebrate these incredible voices, recognize these poignant stories and bring the Gracie Awards to audiences around the world with our first-ever virtual awards show,” said Becky Brooks, Executive Director, Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.  “We applaud the brave storytellers who have reported from the front lines, challenged conventional thinking, and produced content that has created real change – we need this storytelling now more than ever.”

To see a complete list of winners [CLICK HERE].

About The Gracie Awards:

The Gracie Awards is the largest fundraiser of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation which supports and promotes educational programs, and scholarships to benefit the media, the public, and allied fields. In addition to giving $20,000 a year away in scholarships to deserving female students, the Foundation also produces the nationally acclaimed recognition program – the Gracie Awards which honors exemplary programming created by, for, and about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint initiatives with the Emma Bowen Foundation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NCTA – The Cable and Telecommunications Association and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. For more information about The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and the Gracie Awards please visit allwomeninmedia.org and follow on Twitter (@AllWomeninMedia), (#TheGracies), Instagram (@allwomeninmedia) and Facebook.

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THE 45th ANNUAL GRACIE AWARDS ANNOUNCE ALL-STAR VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE HAPPENING LIVE ON SEPTEMBER 10th

Show Will Feature Impact Award Recipient Katy Perry, and Honorees Including Danai Gurira, Naomi Watts, Michelle Williams, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, Tamron Hall, Gayle King and More

Program will Feature Performances by Mickey Guyton, Special Award Tribute by Dr. Sanjay Gupta to Frontline Journalists Bringing COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter Coverage to Homes across America, and Grey’s Anatomy’s “Silent All These Years” Episode will Receive a Stand-out Moment

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) announced the 45th annual Gracie Awards program will air live on AWMF’s Facebook page on September 10, 2020 at 7pm ET/PT. The virtual event will recognize esteemed honoree Katy Perry, who will receive the Gracies Impact Award, which is presented to an artist who has made a positive impact on society through their music. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will deliver a special tribute to frontline journalists who covered breaking news regarding the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, and some of the most talented women in television, radio, and digital media will be honored for their incredible contributions to media this year including Naomi Watts, Michelle Williams, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, Tamron Hall, and Angela Yee.

Danai Gurira, Norah O’Donnell, Fiona Shaw, Andrea Mitchell and Gayle King will appear in the virtual show along with country superstar Mickey Guyton who will perform twice throughout the night, and Grey’s Anatomy’s “Silent All These Years” episode will receive the Grand Award for the incredibly powerful episode which brought attention to sexual assault survivors. Tune-in on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 pm ET/PT at @AllWomenInMedia on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the Alliance for Women in Media’s YouTube page.

“There’s no doubt that this year has been indescribable – but one thing that has stayed consistent is the level of content that continues to be generated by and for women,” said Becky Brooks, Executive Director, Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.  “We understand that people are going through unprecedented times and it’s our commitment to bring the world in for the first time and see the magic of the Gracie Awards as we celebrate some of the brave and poignant, storytellers of our time.”

In the fifth consecutive year as Executive Producer, Vicangelo Bulluck will spotlight these prolific women in the industry who continue to inspire and support others, break down barriers, and lead by example in creating opportunities for future generations.

Sponsors of the Gracie Awards include Ziploc®, Facebook, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, CNN, Crown Media, CBS Corporation, Katz Media Group, Beasley Media Group, and the Ford Motor Company.

Please celebrate all Gracie Award winners with us by watching the video montage dedications on the AWM website. Acceptance speeches of all honorees highlighting their content are available in montages beginning today.

About The Gracie Awards

The Gracie Awards is the largest fundraiser of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation which supports and promotes educational programs, and scholarships to benefit the media, the public, and allied fields. In addition to giving $20,000 a year away in scholarships to deserving female students, the Foundation also produces the nationally acclaimed recognition program – the Gracie Awards which honors exemplary programming created by, for, and about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation has created partnerships and joint initiatives with the Emma Bowen Foundation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), NCTA – The Cable and Telecommunications Association and other organizations that are philosophically aligned with the mission of the Foundation. For more information about The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and the Gracie Awards please visit allwomeninmedia.org and follow on Twitter (@AllWomeninMedia), (#TheGracies), Instagram (@allwomeninmedia) and Facebook.

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Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Releases Interview with American Medical Association President, Dr. Susan Bailey

Moderated by Entercom’s Kelly Ford, Host of the ‘Kelly Ford in the Morning’ Show

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) released the latest installment of the AWM Gracie Interview Series – A Virtual Gathering with American Medical Association President Susan R. Bailey, M.D. Titled “Medicine and The Media – Leadership in Historic Times,” the session was moderated by Entercom’s Kelly Ford, host of Kelly Ford in the Morning on New York’s Country 94.7. The Gracie Interview Series – A Virtual Gathering series was created to engage leaders in media to share wisdom and guidance during a time of immense change and unpredictability.

In response to a question about what medical experts have learned since February, Dr. Bailey shared, “It’s not flip flopping – this is how science is supposed to work. When we get new data, we draw new conclusions and may need to change recommendations.” Regarding how media can be of service to the medical community, Dr. Bailey added, “Ultimately, we are all in this together. By sharing information, we can kick this virus.”

The full recording of the session can be experienced here:

“Dr. Bailey shared meaningful insight into the important partnership between media and the medical community. This is a critical time for media to understand its role and for all of us to know our roles as individuals,” Becky Brooks, Executive Director of the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation stated. “We look forward to hosting more virtual gatherings to share the wisdom of experienced leaders.”

The Gracie Interview Series – Virtual Gatherings are a segment of The Gracie Awards brand. The Gracies are the largest fundraising event by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM), which supports educational programs, charitable activities and scholarships. To engaged with AWM, please consider joining the association or donating to the Foundation so we can continue to offer important programs like this interview series.

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The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation Announces Virtual Gracie Awards Show to Stream on September 10, 2020

June 30, 2020 – The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) announces the 45^th Annual Gracie Awards will be streamed virtually on September 10, 2020.  The Gracies Gala, originally scheduled for May 19, 2020, was intended to be held at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel, and the Gracies Luncheon, originally scheduled for June 24, 2020, was intended to be held in New York City at Cipriani 42nd Street. The 2020 honorees will now be celebrated through a series of digital acceptance speech montages along with a virtual awards ceremony.

“The leadership of AWMF, which annually presents the Gracies as our largest fundraiser, has had one singular focus – to appropriately acknowledge and celebrate our outstanding winners in whatever manner is feasible this year,” said Becky Brooks, Executive Director of AWM/F.  “Therefore, we have made the decision to shift this year’s events to virtual experiences to ensure recognition of all winners in this very important year.”

The Gracie Awards recognize exemplary programming created by, for and about women in radio, television, and interactive media. Honorees are selected in national, local and student markets, including both commercial and non-commercial outlets. The full list of this year’s honorees can be found here.

AWMF extends a tremendous thank you to sponsors of the Gracies Awards, who are committed to supporting the future of women in media.  Along with Ziploc® Brand, the Diamond Sponsor of the 2020 Gracie Awards, this year’s sponsors include Crown Media, CBS, CNN, Katz Media Group, NCTA – The Internet and Television Association, Beasley Media Group and Cox Media Group.

About the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation: In 1960, the Alliance for Women in Media became the first professional broadcasting organization to establish an educational foundation. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (formerly known as The Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television) supports and promotes educational programs, charitable activities, public service campaigns and scholarships to benefit the public, the electronic media and allied fields. The Foundation also produces nationally acclaimed recognition programs, including the Gracie Awards®, a gala that honors exemplary programming created by, for or about women. The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, educational organization. For the latest news on the Gracies, follow The Gracies on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about the Gracie Awards and to submit your entries, please visit www.allwomeninmedia.org/gracies.

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Alliance for Women in Media Statement on the Homicide of George Floyd

By: Keisha Sutton-James, Chair, Alliance for Women in Media

The recent brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, combined with a global health pandemic that has had a disproportionate effect on communities of color, have laid bare the injustices and inequalities that continues to exist in America to this day.  Media outlets have offered around the clock coverage of this tragic moment in our country’s history, and of the massive protests that have gripped our nation.

On behalf of our leadership across the United States and Canada, the Alliance for Women in Media supports the human rights of all Americans, including Black Americans.  Black lives do matter.  As a Black woman whose grandfather, Percy Sutton, was a Freedom Rider, politician and activist before moving into media in order to effect change through the use of media, I have always been keenly aware of this fact. And now, this moment – a health crisis and the senseless murders of innocent people – has served to remind us as a nation of this fact.

We, the media, are the storytellers – whether through scripted or journalistic work.  We tell the stories of our humanity – trauma and triumph, denial and victory, betrayal and reconciliation.  We, the Alliance for Women in Media, stand with the protestors who are peacefully marching our country toward its founding ideals. We stand with the storytellers, journalists, producers and directors and particularly the women in these roles, who are sharing the truth of this moment for the world to see.  We applaud the bravery and tenacity displayed, some at the risk of their own safety.

The AWM will continue to recognize and celebrate the women who are frontline journalists and storytellers, women behind the cameras and microphones, and the true protagonists in our nation’s story: those who are leading our nation to its higher self.  We thank you for all that you do.

Keisha Sutton-James

Founder, Sutton Button Productions, LLC

Chair, Alliance for Women in Media

Please allow us to highlight a few of the important, ongoing conversations on this topic through pieces that reflect the work and voices of some of our Gracies honorees in radio, television and digital media.

• Angela Yee and the Breakfast Club Conversation with Rush Limbaugh
• Great Big Story
• Gayle King interviews TD Jakes

Get informed – get involved. Read. Learn. Connect. Talk. Get involved locally or nationally.  Here are a few resources to help get you started:

• NAACP
• Legal Defense Fund
• National Urban League
• Equal Justice Initiative