We are just weeks from the Democratic and Republican conventions: The WMC will be reporting from both — keeping you informed on the media aspects of our political process, straight through to the November election and beyond.
Up first, at the Democratic Convention, on Tuesday, August 26th, the WMC will reprise our tremendously successful forum, From Soundbites to Solutions: Bias, Punditry and the Press in the 2008 Election, and release the report from the original event. We first co-sponsored the forum with our partners, The White House Project and The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, on June 17 at the Paley Center for Media. We are thrilled to continue the discussion, this time with Michel Martin of NPR, Jonathan Alter of Newsweek, Patricia Williams of The Nation, Rebecca Traister of Salon, Jamal Simmons of CNN, and María Teresa Petersen of Voto Latino, among the early confirmed participants. Video clips from the Paley event can be accessed from our website at www.womensmediacenter.com.
The report, “Bias, Punditry, and the Press: Where Do We Go From Here,” will include recommendations for the media and consumers of media and will be available for download on our website after the August 25 release. Please help the WMC distribute printed copies of this important report. .jpg)
In addition, on Wednesday, August 27, the WMC is also hosting a panel with another of our partners, Women’s eNews. Six leading congresswomen (Loretta Sanchez-CA, Rosa DeLauro-CT, Carolyn Maloney-NY, Gwen Moore-WI, Lois Capps-CA confirmed so far) will discuss WEN’s The Memo– a status report of six areas that the candidates and delegates must address. The WMC will issue its complementary Election Dispatches, a special series of commentaries related to the 2008 presidential election. The congresswomen will address the media’s handling of women and the economy, immigration, women in the military, international issues, war and peace, and health. Read Pramila Jayapal’s Election Dispatch on Immigration and Jennifer Hogg’s Election Dispatch on Women in the Military, and let us know what you think by posting on our blog, Majority Post.
This convention holds the potential for great symbolism for women: it marks the 100th anniversary of the last Democratic convention in the city of Denver. In 1908 women did not have the right to vote. Party leaders refused to even discuss the issue, although women suffragists protested. This year, the convention is chaired by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the highest ranking woman elected official in the country, co-chaired by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. The CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee is Leah D. Daughtry.
On Tuesday, August 26, Senator Hillary Clinton will address the delegates. That is the 88th anniversary of the day the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution became law, which gave women the right to vote in 1920. Senator Barack Obama accepts the nomination on Thursday, August 28th, before a public audience of 75,000 people. That is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.We’ve certainly come a significant distance in the last 100 years, but among our continued fights is the one to make women visible and powerful in the media. We’d love to have you join us.
With best wishes,
.png)
Carol Jenkins
WMC President
p.s. Sign up for for the WMC’s Exclusive Election Dispatches, Daily News Brief, and other news from the WMC!
Subscribe 
One Comment
Funny, I didn’t get the right to vote in this election, either. Suffrage is a joke. Women have traditionally stood up for everyone besides the male corporate elite. Why won’t they stand up for each other. The stories on this site read like corporate ads. Why isn’t Ms. Ifel, going to ask questions at the debate? Why hasn’t anyone arrested Howard Dean, Donna Brazille, or Nancy Pelosi. Why didn’t you tell the world that Wexler, from Del Ray Beach, Fl, the very man who told the RBC that Floridians didn’t want to vote was the sponsor of the bill to move up the Florida primary. Why don’t you tell the world that he was rewarded by the Obama campaign for abandoning his constituents? Ms. Jenkins, I have always respected you. I understand you are an Obama supporter. But, I must ask what does suffrage mean if the first time we ever get to vote in 100 years, they say
“woops! you didn’t vote for the right person, your vote is gone.” Why didn’t the DNC punish the states who moved up primaries, but voted for Obama? Why did they hide the Edwards scandal? I truly believe you are being used to keep men in power. I think we are being offered another right wing christian mouthpiece in Obama and I think you are on the wrong side of this great patriarchal moment. Women have no representation: not in the government, not in the press. We should oppose taxes. We should stick together. Obama cannot win if only the African American community sticks with him out of loyalty. I voted for Jesse Jackson: I will vote for Cynthia McKinney: I am not a racist. Please, please, stand with all of your sisters. If they don’t let some of us vote, they don’t support any of us. If this is all the DNC has to offer us we need our own party. I would like to see articles on DNC corruption and kingmaking. I would like to see articles on how poor women are dealing with foreclosure and taking care of their relatives as the economy tanks. I would like to see articles on the PUMAs. Why are you ignoring the grass roots movement going on in this country? Why don’t you report on Obama using Michelle to catfight with Hillary (woman can’t run her own house) and how humiliating it was for all women to see her kowtow like that?
Why don’t you comment on the Marie Antionetteness of Michelle Obama’s diamonds and Georgian mansion while millions are losing their homes? Why don’t you comment on the targeted accusation of racism against Appalachians (who are poor and ignorant, God knows) to hide the fact that Obama is antiunion? I know how important this election is. They are all important. And, I have waited so long to participate. I don’t know why I bother.