FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
YANA WALTON, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER
(OFFICE) 212-563-0680
YANA@WOMENSMEDIACENTER.COM
National ‘NAME IT. CHANGE IT.’ Campaign Launch Addresses Sexism in Media Against Women Candidates Starting in 2010 Midterm Elections
New York: Just days after the 90th anniversary of women’s right to vote, women candidates running for office during November’s midterm election have already begun to experience one of the biggest obstacles to their electoral success: The toxic manner in which they are portrayed in the media. This is why the Women’s Campaign Forum Foundation, Women’s Media Center, and Political Parity, are partnering to launch a national campaign to ensure media accountability through a coordinated rapid response network intended to dramatically decrease incidences of misogyny in the media directed at women running for elected office. The Name it. Change it. project aims high: To remove one of the most serious barriers to America’s representative democracy.
WMC President and former advisor to Hillary Clinton, Jehmu Greene, says “Not only will we monitor and hold outlets accountable for problematic coverage, we’ll work proactively with media professionals and outlets to provide resources for balanced local and national coverage of the elections, and give them the opportunity to take the equality pledge not to engage in pervasive sexist attacks – because we know that sexism and equality simply don’t mix.” Tuesday’s press conference will offer attending media the first chance to ask questions of speakers and campaign leaders, one-on-one interviews after the conference, as well as an opportunity to sign the Name It. Change It. equality pledge. The event will also livestream at www.nameitchangeit.org, www.wcffoundation.org, www.womensmediacenter.com.
2008 US Congressional Candidate (PA-15), and WCF Foundation and WCF President/CEO Siobhan “Sam” Bennett experienced the detrimental comments and hostile attacks that women candidates experience simply as a function of running. “It’s probably surprising for some to learn that the U.S. currently ranks 86th in the world for the number of women in Congress. And to paint a clearer national picture, 51% of Americans are women, but we hold only 17% of the seats in Congress, and 24% of State Legislature seats. And it’s no coincidence that hostile portrayals and sexist media scrutiny affect voter outcomes. We look forward to releasing groundbreaking research conducted by Lake Research showing just how severely slanted coverage impacts attitudes toward candidates, and thus electoral outcomes.”
Parity co-chair Kerry Healey, also has firsthand knowledge of the hostile environment that women candidates and elected officials face, and welcomes the change we will make for women candidates. “This project is a perfect example of Political Parity in action: deeply committed partners, each bringing to the table the respective strengths of their organizations, working together to help all women running for office, irrespective of political parties and value systems.”
What: Press Conference for national Name It. Change It. campaign launch
When: Tues, Aug. 31st from 11a – 12p
Where: The Paley Center for Media (25 West 52nd Street, btw 5th & 6th Avenues)
RSVP: rsvp@womensmediacenter.com to ensure a seat and an opportunity for in-person interviews
Online: www.nameitchangeit.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nameitchangeit
The use of the Paley Center for Media’s facilities does not constitute endorsement by The Paley Center for any views expressed during this event.”
Subscribe 
3 Comments
As the most recent past-president of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University, many thanks for this new campaign.
You are absolutely right that this practice will not change unless perpetrators are confronted about it. Excellent idea to coordinate these efforts.
It’s way past time we confronted this attack on women!
It is necessary for women to hold our cultural and political institutions accountable for sexist portrayals in the media.We are currently experiencing a backlash in the women’s movement in this area. In TV ads our images are increasingly portrayed in a sexual manner and in the movies female stripping and pornography are being shown as something acceptable and mainstream in our culture. I believe this is abusive in societal terms and harmful especially to our youth to view these negative messages. Our bodies belong to us and should not be portrayed as an image of the projected sexual desires of men with unhealthy psychic boundaries. I see sexual portrayals of women’s bodies in the media as an issue of a lack of healthy boundaries in the collectice sphere. In our role as public servants our appearance and what we are wearing is not an appropriate topic for discussion in the media. Good job!