WMC Press Releases

Julie Burton Receives Media Diversity Award for Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Julie Burton, president and CEO of the Women’s Media Center, received a Sheroes in Media Award from the Multicultural Media & Correspondents Association for her work in leading an organization that amplifies underrepresented voices in the media and elevates their stories.

Burton was one of seven recipients of MMCA’s first annual Sheroes in Media Award. The gala, which was held virtually on Wednesday, recognized extraordinary women who promote diversity in media and exemplify diverse media excellence.

In her acceptance speech, Burton thanked MMCA for the beautiful award and the important work the organization does. She accepted the award on behalf of WMC.

“We at the Women’s Media Center work every day to see more women, hear more women, and read more women on all news platforms. Every project we do has a lens on diversity, inclusion, and equality,” Burton said. She noted that 66% of the women leaders WMC trains in its WMC Progressive Women’s Voices program are women of color; 75% of the women leaders WMC has trained have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. More than half of the women experts WMC promotes to journalists through the WMC SheSource program are women of color, she added, noting that the organization’s writers and editors reflect the rich tapestry of experience in America.

“Our reports — especially our WMC Status of Women in the U.S. Media and our WMC Status of Women of Color in the U.S. Media — demonstrate the lack of equality for women, and especially women of color, on all platforms of media. Thank you for seeing our work, valuing it, and encouraging us to fight on for a world where each of us and all our stories matter.”

When asked about what drives her success, Burton told attendees: “I really think that equality of voice and opportunity has been a guiding light in my life.”

WMC Board Chair Janet Dewart Bell, who watched the live award ceremony, said she is very proud of Burton’s recognition.

“Julie Burton’s vision and tenacity to diversify the media landscape are extraordinary and transformative,” she said. “Under her leadership, the Women’s Media Center strives to foster a more inclusive, representative media — one that truly reflects the wonderful stories and voices of a multicultural society.”

Gloria Steinem, co-founder of the Women’s Media Center, said: “Julie Burton is the rare person who is as inspiring in a position of leadership as she is as an organizer behind the scenes. She is a crucial force in the fight for a more just and equal society that starts with women -- and encompasses everyone.”

In his award announcement to Burton, David Morgan, MMCA co-founder and president, said the awards celebrate the power, resiliency, and selflessness of the Sheroes. “Your excellence and continued effort to use your position of influence to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in media perfectly embody the spirit of the MMCA and our call to action.”

Other honorees who received the inaugural Sheroes in Media Awards were Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black Journalists; Francine Compton, president of the Native American Journalists Association; Heather Cohen, board chair of the All Women in Media Foundation; Lisa Matthews, president of the National Press Club; Michelle Lee, president of the Asian American Journalists Association; and Nora Lopez, president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

The gala — held in recognition of Women’s History Month — was co-emceed by Alicia Menendez, anchor and correspondent at MSNBC and author of The Likeability Trap, and inaugural MMCD Broadcast Journalist of the Year honoree and Richard Lui, anchor at MSNBC and NBC News and author of Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness.

MMCA is a multicultural and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit leading a call to action to address what it sees as a crisis of media diversity and cultural competency with serious economic, social and political implications.

The Women’s Media Center, co-founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem, is an inclusive feminist organization that works to raise the visibility, viability, and decision-making power of women and girls in media to ensure that their stories get told and their voices are heard. We do this by researching media through the WMC Media Lab; creating and modeling original online and on-air journalism; training women and girls to be effective in media; and promoting women experts in all fields through WMC SheSource.

WMC online and on-air journalism channels include the award-winning podcast and radio show Women’s Media Center Live with Robin Morgan, WMC Features, WMC Women Under Siege, WMC FBomb, WMC IDAR/E, WMC Climate and WMC Speech Project.

For more information, contact Cristal Williams Chancellor, director of communications, at cristal@womensmediacenter.com or 202-270-8539.



More articles by Category: Media, Race/Ethnicity
More articles by Tag:
SHARE

[SHARE]

Article.DirectLink

Contributor
Julie Burton
Women's Media Center President
Categories