Lemonada Media Founders Share Insights in Gracie Interview Series with Heather Cohen, Executive Vice President, Weiss Agency

View Interview Here

[September 6, 2023] On Thursday, September 7 the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) will release the latest Gracie Interview Series with Lemonada Media’s founders, Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, in conversation with Heather Cohen, immediate Past Chair, AWM Foundation, Executive Vice President, Weiss Agency.

Lemonada Media is an award-winning podcast network known for its thought-provoking and socially impactful content. In this insightful conversation, Lemonada’s founders discuss their journey, their commitment to storytelling, and their dedication to amplifying diverse voices within the media landscape. As part of AWM’s ongoing mission to empower and celebrate women in media, this interview provides a unique opportunity to delve into the minds behind Lemonada Media, a company known for its commitment to authenticity, inclusivity and “making life suck less.”

Furthermore, Lemonada Media has gained recognition for its compelling podcasts, which tackle critical social issues, foster meaningful conversations, and explore a wide range of topics, from mental health, women’s issues to racial justice and more.

In this engaging interview, Lemonada’s founders share:

• The inspiration behind Lemonada Media and its commitment to creating content that matters.
• Their experiences navigating the ever-evolving podcasting industry.
• Insights into the importance of diversity and inclusion in media.
• Upcoming projects and initiatives aimed at promoting underrepresented voices.

The interview with Lemonada Media’s founders will be available on the Alliance for Women in Media’s website on September 7. AWM members are encouraged to tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of podcasting and media entrepreneurship.

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About the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM): The Alliance for Women in Media connects, recognizes and educates women across the media industry. AWM is a diverse community 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. 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.

CONTACT:
Jenny Ditto
Awards & Public Relations Manager
Jennyditto@allwomeninmedia.org

Marissa Kraus’ Essay, “The Impact of Women in Sports Media,” an AWM Foundation and ESPN Scholarship Project

Marissa Kraus was the recipient of the 2023 Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and ESPN Scholarship. Kraus is an undergraduate student attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Journalism. What follows is her project essay on The Impact of Women in Sports Media.

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The Impact of Women in Sports Media

Like many things in women’s history, finding a place for females in sports media took a while. Although sports media is still heavily male-dominated, it has drastically grown over the past century, particularly the last two decades.

In the last 20 years or so, sports media has progressed significantly in terms of racial diversity, gender equality, and in eliminating entities like sexism and misogyny, according to Anna Clemmons with Global Sport Matters.  

Of course, getting to that point wasn’t easy. Schools unfortunately don’t teach the history of women in sports media (although that would be an awesome class!) so I did some of my own research. My key takeaway? There are countless women that have contributed to women’s progress in sports media that would not fit in this essay. Phyllis George, Jayne Kennedy, and even Robin Roberts are all names that aided in the growth of women in the industry. Furthermore, it is also important to note milestones like Title IX, which encouraged women to pursue careers in sports media.

Of course, one can’t talk about the history of sports journalism without mentioning ESPN. While there are many prominent female broadcasters, sideline reporters, writers and producers with ESPN today, it wasn’t always like that. When network sports television began in the 1940s, it was majority male and wasn’t until 1975 when a female had a prominent role in network sports broadcasting, according to Doug Mead with Bleacher Report.

Today, ESPN reporters like Lisa Salters, Holly Rowe, and Pam Ward are recognized for their lasting impact on women in sports media. In fact, another well-known name, Shelley Smith, has made a direct impact on me.

During my sophomore year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I learned of the name Shelley Smith, who actually attended UNL. In fact, many of the current faculty went to school with Smith and know her personally. As a budding journalist, this caught my attention, so I began to research more about Smith. I found that she was not just an ESPN reporter, but one of the most impactful female sports reporters in the industry. Her impact started at UNL at the same college newspaper I currently work for, the Daily Nebraskan, where she was the sports editor and even pushed to get access to the Nebraska men’s locker rooms. How cool is that?

Since then, multi award-winning Smith has worked for many publications including Sports Illustrated before landing at ESPN first as a part-time reporter and now as one of their top sports writers. She has also written three books and is an outspoken supporter of the National Breast Cancer Foundation after becoming diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014.

To say that Smith impacted me would be an understatement. Her story and influence inspired me so much that I set up an interview with her and had the pleasure of talking with her personally. This conversation, which spanned from her memories of working at the Daily Nebraskan to stories from reporting for ESPN, was such an incredible opportunity. If I wasn’t sure about going into sports media before that phone call, I certainly was after.

There are so many other inspiring women in sports media who have paved the way for journalists like me, and I am forever grateful for their willingness to challenge the status quo. If it hadn’t been for those early female journalists who rallied for a spot on the sports broadcast, or for Melissa Ludtke who went to federal court to guarantee female reporters equal protection rights, the state of women in sports media would not be where we are today.

Beyond just getting a spot at the table, the progress of women in sports media has allowed progress in diversity too. Having diversity in sports media is important for more representative coverage, allowing underrepresented populations and issues to be recognized more by the public. However, diversity does not just mean gender, and women’s progress is just the start. As women’s growth in the industry continues, how can we gain diversity in other areas too, like race, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic status? Now that is a shower thought for every supporter of journalism.

Continuing to increase diversity is important for not only the future of women in sports media, but for all people in media.

There are more women in sports media than ever before, and it is an honor to be a part of that piece of history. Learning its history has shown me that nothing will change until someone is willing to get out of their comfort zone to make that change. While I may not be a Shelley Smith, I hope to make my own impact in the industry and maybe even inspire another budding female journalist one day.

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If you have any questions about current and future AWM Foundation scholarships, please visit https://allwomeninmedia.org/foundation/scholarships.

Donate today to support the future of women in media, https://allwomeninmedia.org/foundation/make-a-donation.

Carsen Smith’s Metaverse, an AWM Foundation and NCTA Scholarship Recipient Project

Carsen Smith was the recipient of the 2022 Alliance for Women in Media Foundation and NCTA – the Internet and Television Association Scholarship. Carsen is a graduate student attending Columbia University studying Film MFA. Her scholarship project, Metaverse, is set in the year 2032 depicting an array of women working in the “modern day metaverse.”

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If you have any questions about current and future AWM Foundation scholarships, please visit https://allwomeninmedia.org/foundation/scholarships.

Donate today to support the future of women in media, https://allwomeninmedia.org/foundation/make-a-donation.

Megan Hatlee’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

Being chosen as a 2022 Mattel Fellowship recipient at the Gracies Leadership Awards was an experience I will never forget as I continue to develop my career as a media professional. Throughout the afternoon, I was able to absorb wisdom from leading women in the media industry, including Soledad O’Brien, Nancy Daniels, Debra OConnell, and Wendy Goldberg. Every honoree had a unique and inspiring story to tell. One of the most important lessons I learned from these women and their stories is that adversity is common and can be defeated, and challenges can be overcome through the power of unity and the support of one another. I left the Gracies Leadership Awards with an overwhelming feeling that I can find success in any field of work that I may decide to pursue in the future. This is largely due to the fact that I stand on the shoulders of women before me who have helped pave the way and who have broken glass ceilings in order to open doors for those following in their footsteps.

I also had the opportunity to network with individuals from a variety of media companies on a multitude of platforms. I spoke with men and women who have spent decades in the broadcast radio industry and shared their experience of having lived through the evolution of radio and
seeing first-hand the changes that have occurred through time. Some others in attendance had just started their careers in the industry, getting their feet wet in television or advertising. We shared our common goals for the future and issues currently at hand in the media industry. There was a wealth of information to be learned from every individual in attendance, be it an
honoree, an AWM board member, or a fellow student being sponsored by Mattel or the Google News Initiative.

I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to share this experience with other women studying journalism and media from across the country. We fostered friendships, shared life stories, and discussed our passions about the future of the media industry. Being able to spend the afternoon with ambitious, like-minded women was an invaluable experience. Knowing that I am entering the media industry with so many courageous and driven women by my side is both comforting and empowering. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mattel for making this fellowship possible and to the Alliance for Women in Media for hosting the celebratory Gracies
Leadership Awards ceremony where women in the media industry can be recognized for their outstanding efforts and groundbreaking contributions to society.

Megan Hatlee is a recipient of the 2022 Mattel Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Southern Illinois University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Alex Dusky’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

I will never forget receiving the email that I was one of seven students chosen to receive the Mattel Fellowship this year. This is such a huge honor not only for myself, but for my University, as no Oklahoma State University student has received such recognition. At the awards ceremony, I was welcomed by none other than Valerie Blackburn, who truly embodies a woman leader in media. Her pure joy to be at the event and kindness towards me was enough to show that many more wonders were in store for me the rest of the afternoon.

I was surrounded by so many wonderful women, both executives in the industry, as well as my peers. It was great to be able to speak with both the other Mattel Fellows and Google News Initiative Fellows. Learning what other females my age are doing at their individual universities was empowering in itself, but little did I know what awaited me from the eight honorees. All of these women had such powerful, yet humble speeches, and each one made sure to appreciate everyone who helped shape them to be the leader they are today. 

This was an amazing opportunity to network and talk one-on-one with those in my industry, specifically Marie Donoghue. She gave a wonderful speech focusing on women in sports and sports media and seeing how she has made it to the top further encourages me to continue to strive for success. 

Thank you to Mattel for making the opportunity for me to attend such an event possible and to the Alliance for Women in Media for hosting the wonderful Gracies Leadership Awards. Continually recognizing and honoring women leaders is how we encourage young women in the industry, and I for one am confident we as a society are heading in the right direction. 

Alex Dusky is a recipient of the 2022 Mattel Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Oklahoma State University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Lisa Setyon’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

When I found out that I was selected to attend the Gracies Leadership Awards in New York City, a large smile illuminated my face; I simply couldn’t believe that I was going to have the incredible opportunity to hear from high-achieving women in the industry including keynote speaker, Soledad O’Brien, who has greatly shaped my decision to work in the journalism field.

For me being chosen not only meant that I was going to hear from powerful women in the industry, it also made me realize my worth. Growing up in France, I was accustomed to often being the only black face in the room ‑ and the one ­who people would routinely bet against. They assumed I wouldn’t succeed and, consequently, wouldn’t push me to do better. When I moved to the United States for my undergraduate and master’s degree and saw the larger amount of women of color in media, I regained faith in myself and felt motivated to succeed even more because I was not alone.

Attending the Gracies Leadership Awards reinforced that state of mind.

From the moment I entered the room of the Tribeca 360 11^th floor, I felt inspired, proud and happy. There was so much diversity in the room but also so much power. The room was filled with the promise that the media industry is heading in the right direction. Since my selection, I’d read the honorees’ biographies at least ten times. That day, I read them again on one of the walls in order to keep reminding myself that it was a true honor to be at the Gracies event.

Shortly after that, I sat in the main room with the rest of the guests and the Google News Initiative team. We all chatted and networked for a while and the honorees’ speeches started shortly after.

I felt inspired by each and every one of the honorees and their journeys to success. I enjoyed them sharing not only the accomplishments in their lives but also times where things did not go as planned yet ended up working out. Sharing the good and bad made me realize that despite their accomplishments, these amazing women were also humans, like me.

I felt particularly inspired by Kim Godwin’s speech. Indeed, her speech on not being seen and being denied certain opportunities resonated with me the most: “For every person who didn’t see me, there was a person who did,” Godwin said. “For every person who denied me an opportunity, there was person who gave me one. Because people gave me a chance, I have decided I will give others a chance.”

As I heard Ms. Godwin’s speech, I started tearing up a little because it reminded me of so many times I had the feeling that I didn’t fit in. As bad as it may sound, hearing that a woman as accomplished as her has also had to endure some of the same things as me made me feel less alone. But it has also made me realize that oftentimes when I was being told that I was too angry, too obsessed with including more diversity in the workspace, I was making valid points.

Black women are often portrayed as being angry, being too strong to the point of being inhuman. One main thing that I took away from my experience at the Gracies Leadership Award is that when you fight for respect and for what you truly believe and want, you will find a way to get where you want to be. Some of the honorees said that a few years ago, they would have never thought that they could have had the job position that they have now. The media’s industry willingness to change things, to hire more people of color and accept more different points of view will keep leading to more impactful and powerful changes in the industry. To me, that’s one of the most significant innovations of the coming years.

Lisa Setyon is a recipient of the 2022 Google News Initiative Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Stanford University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Phoebe Chen’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

My name is Phoebe Chen, and I’m a senior student at Boston University studying journalism and will be joining Bloomberg News as a Content Producer soon in December. I’m all about storytelling — It’s why I read, why I write and why I love hearing people’s stories. It’s why I’m pursuing a career in journalism. I will stop talking about myself here since all I did was watch, listen, and pay attention to the outstanding women I met on a wonderful afternoon at Tribeca 360.

I was honored to be selected as one of the Google News Initiative fellows to attend this year’s Gracies Leadership Award. It was an amazing opportunity to attend the award as a student, which, I’m not going to lie, was a little intimidating at first. I mean, that was a reasonable feeling for a student sitting with a group of the most influential figures in the media industry, right? But as the award started, my attention shifted to the speakers, who offered life-changing speeches that stayed in my mind for the next few days. What they have achieved in their career and for the growth of the industry are something no words could hold, yet, they were so humble and were still settling for more.

In my opinion, the Asian perspective is immensely underrepresented on the global stage, and I have witnessed how news could make a difference. The advancement of news inclusiveness is one of the main drives of my passion for news production — But before changing the world, we have to make changes from the inside. Noted from the award, according to a study spanning 20 years, “across 114 countries, women comprise only 24% of the people we read about, see, or hear from on television, radio, and in the newspapers.” Despite the disadvantage, we women did not and would not step back but only become motivated — I was touched by all the winners and speakers for their courage, perseverance, and commitment towards inclusiveness in media. The role of women in media is gaining recognition for striving for media freedom, pluralism, independence, and safety. I can never express my gratitude for these great women who paved the way for our generation.

Taking this chance, I also want to touch on what I think will be the most significant innovation in news in the next 10 years. We all know that news is always timely, and it never stops changing. However, the way the news is being reported is also changing — apparently, it is a corresponding effect of the rise of streaming services and our dependence on the Internet. Not everyone watches TV anymore, but almost everyone consumes news on their laptop or cellphone. Thus, I consider digital journalism to be one of the most important tools moving forward for creating positive change in the world and establishing an informed global citizenry. I believe that all of us in the media industry — both students and working professionals — play leading roles in this process.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend the award and meet all the outstanding female figures in the media industry — it was a dream come true.

Phoebe Chen is a recipient of the 2022 Google News Initiative Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Boston University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Aria Young’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

Women are the present and future of media. I felt deeply inspired by all the pioneering women in media that spoke by the podium at the 2022 Gracies Awards. Standing on the shoulders of these women, I can see the future of media being more remarkable and innovative than ever. In my opinion, the most significant innovation in news in the next 10 years will be AI technology. I think journalists will use artificial intelligence to enhance their reporting. Through augmented reporting, journalists can utilize content generated by AI machines, such as macro data trends and phenomenons, and focus on deriving insights instead of gathering information. The journalist’s role will evolve from a one-dimensional news gatherer to news curator. Future journalists will develop better decision making and narrative creating skills because of AI reporting.

Aria Young is a recipient of the 2022 Google News Initiative Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at New York University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Caitlyn Moran’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

Caitlyn Moran is a recipient of the 2022 Mattel Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Hofstra University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.

Laila Wilson’s Experience at the 2022 Gracies Leadership Award

When I learned I was being recognized as a Mattel Fellow by the Alliance for Women in Media, I was ecstatic to be among such prominent women at the luncheon. On my way to the Gracies Leadership Awards, I remembered vivid snapshots from prior honoree ceremonies I was invited to this year — The President’s Platform Party for distinguished Purchase College graduates, The Black Graduation, and The State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence ceremony. It’s empowering to take in how people congregate to celebrate the achievements of one another and, furthermore, uplift communities that often have the odds stacked against them. Stepping out of the elevator and into The Gracies Leadership Awards, there was an overwhelming feeling knowing that I was in a space, this time, recognizing phenomenal women movers and shakers.

Chesley Maddox-Dorsey, CEO of A wonder Media Company (AWMC, LLC), said, “For me, business is personal, disruptive, and a force for transformative change.” As a scripted TV writer, I apply this mindset in my creative work. I write stories to bridge gaps and break boundaries by emphasizing authentic representation of diverse characters and stories. To push the envelope and be daring as a writer is just as important because the stories we see in the media reflect the world we live in and how people see themselves. Being empowered to shape the next iteration of television makes me hopeful for the future. Thanks to the Gracies Leadership Awards, I am further reminded I am in good hands working with women leaders and business executives that are paving the way for these stories to be heard beyond the page.

Laila Wilson is a recipient of the 2022 Mattel Student Fellowship. She is currently a student at Stony Brook University, and we look forward to seeing how she continues to shape the world of media in the future.