Cleavage, Cackles, and Cookies

Blogging live from WAM, yes, yes, yes. It's Sunday morning, and I've been looking forward to this session since before the conference started. Analysis of News Coverage of Hillary Clinton and the Presidential Election by Allison Stevens, the Washington Bureau Chief of Women's eNews, Barbara Lee, social activist and philanthropist, Betsy Reed, executive editor of The Nation, and Carol Hardy-Fanta, director at the UMass Boston's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy.

I'll give you all more info about this fantastic panel soon.

K.

Beating the Old Boys' Club

One of the best things about WAM! is its dedication to discussing strategic change in journalism and media. It's way beyond a "this is what's happening" conference. Already in this session I'm in, which is all about working within the system for change (ie, more women's bylines, combating racism and sexism in the workplace), the panelists are discussing strategies for Not Shutting Up (which could be the unofficial theme of the weekend---or WAM! at large for that matter).

Here's some of what the panelists are saying: Be a squeaky wheel. Be outraged. Have a voice. One longtime journalist in the audience said that antifeminist stories make good copy. Don't stand for it! Email the editor. Complain. Panelist E.J. Graff said that women do not ask for what we want. Editors get one pitch for every five they get from a man. So if you're a writer/journalist, speak up about the type of stories you want to read or write.

I'm remembering now that mixed sense of heartfelt optimism and soul-crushing hopelessness I felt at this conference last year. Talking about media coverage of women (and feminism and race and and and...) is distressing, but engaging in honest conversations about how to effect change (with progressive, feminist, incredibly smart women no less!) is that wake-up call we all need---even for those of us who only get it once a year.

---Brooke

Helen Thomas: Legend

Last night's keynote was amazing. It was more a rundown of Helen Thomas's experiences as a female journalist in the post-WWII years, fighting against the old boys' club, and of all her years covering U.S. presidents---from JFK (her personal favorite) through the current Bush43 (she didn't say her least favorite cause she didn't have to).

Krista and I sat ten feet from Thomas, in the front row. She's tiny. She can't be more than five feet tall. Ann of Feministing.com introduced her as the Patron Saint of Not Shutting Up (which she got from a comment to a post she did about the famous journalist).

Thomas's talk was touching because of how much she's seen, and because of the history she's lived. Her criticism of George W. stems from having seen others come before him and actually be accountable to the people. She called this "the most secretive Administration there is."

Afterwards, during questions from the audience, a college student from Brandeis asked Helen if she thought it was okay to support Hillary for president just because she's a woman. Helen thought on this and answered, "Yes" followed by a creeping, mischievous smile. She qualified this, of course, but it was interesting to hear her talk this out---this eighty-seven-year-old woman who has seen so much change in our country, and who has never not questioned why things are the way they are. She's a model for noncomplacency, and an inspiration: a woman who's proven that you can make a difference by holding to your guns and having courage and, yes, not shutting up.

---Brooke

tune in for WAM! coverage

Krista and I are leaving for the Women, Action & the Media conference tomorrow and we'll be posting live from Cambridge through the weekend. So do stay tuned!

Highlights:

Keynote speaker Helen Thomas, the first woman officer of the National Press Club, was the first woman member and president of the White House Correspondents Association, and the first woman member of the Gridiron Club.

Screening of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, a movie I've been wanting to see ---but it's very difficult to find---featuring Daniela Sea (Max on The L Word).

An amazing list of presenters!

And at least a few feminist celebrity sightings.

---Brooke