WOMEN, ACTION, AND THE MEDIA 2008 JAMBOREE
Jaclyn Friedman
Program Director for the Center For New Words
The Women, Action and the Media (WAM) conference is an annual national event hosted by the Center for New Words (CNW) that brings together progressive women media professionals and students to discuss ways to improve women's visibility in the media.
CNW is a Cambridge – Massachusetts – based non profit organization dedicated to providing a space for the power and creativity of words to strengthen the voice of progressive women and women speaking from the margins of society. Built on twenty–eight years of experience running New Words Bookstore, CNW nurtures women's culture, confidence and public voices, host a wide variety of programming throughout the year showing why women's words matter.
WAM 2008 the fifth edition, was held at MIT's Stata Center in Cambridge MA from March 28th – 30th, and brought together six hundred participants chiefly from the US and Canada, then Iraq, Cameroon, Pakistan, Quatar and India for countries noted.
On Friday after breakfast, the Press had a Networking Pre- conference, moderated by Ann Friedman and E.J Graff, reviewing setbacks faced by the female Journalist and coming up with resolutions and solutions to ameliorate the situation.
The entire WAM conference had a rich package of forty sessions, which centered on the social, economic, educative, creative, legislative and religious/ cultural feminine issues with one hundred and three Presenters.Other activities at WAM 2008 were, Feminist Duck Tour of Boston, WAM! Benefit Reception – an intimate reception with Helen Thomas and Haifa Zangana to benefit the WAM! Scholarship & travel assistance funds, Saturday's Lunch Caucuses, an opportunity to gather, network and plan with people who share your interest. In a more relax setting was the Queer Women of Color (QWOC) + Boston Reception for women of color and friends and the WAM! Party by AlterNet. Also screened where films - Silent Choices a live Q&A with Filmmaker Faith Pennick, is a sixty minutes film about abortion and its personal and political impact on the lives of African American women. The film is a 'hybrid' documentary, part historical pieces, part social and religious analysis and part first person narrative.
- Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad / A little Bit of So Much Truth a ninety minutes film produced and directed by Irene Freidberg, is about a broad- based, non-violent, population uprising exploded in the Southern Mexican State of Oaxaca in the summer of 2006. Some compares it to the Paris Commune while others called it the first Latin American revolution of the 21st century, but it was the people's use of the media that truly made history in Oaxaca.
- Itty Bitty Titty Committee a sixty-eight minutes film directed by Jamie Babbitt. It Centered on Ann a shy, just –out-of–high –school lesbian, still living with her parents and working at a Plastic surgery clinic. She is coming out not as a gay but as a revolutionary. Itty Bitty Titty Communittee is a rockin'love song to the heady rush of sex, freedom and rebellion that happens when an everyday girl discovers her own strength and the righteousness indication needed to take action and change the world.
To further spice WAM 2008 were two formidable women as keynote Speakers. Friday Helen Thomas, first lady of the press and former White House Bureau Chief, shared her experiences, views and opinions. In her presentation, she cited that the media in her era was a male dominated profession – 'THE OLD BOYS' CLUB' as some women call it. When the men went for war, women filled the gap in professions like teaching and journalism. Women, who embraced the media, faced tough times and still do. Nonetheless, women need courage to meet challenges and make an impression. She is also dismay about the wars America has indulge in, adding that she asked one officer why he was at war and he said he had no idea.Helen Thomas has written many books, mostly based on her experiences.
Saturday Keynote talk with Haifa Zangana, Chair of Iraqi Patriots in Media and Culture (IPMC), Novelist, Columnist and former prisoner of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, touched many hearts perceived from the number of head gestures whilst she was delivering her speech.
Her account of her ordeal and the plight of present day Iraq, especially the women and children would leave any one with a pure conscience with goose bumps.Before the Iraqi people had just their government to deal with but today with allied forces like the US and others occupying Iraq, the situation of Iraq has change from bad to worse – mass destruction, men are killed, women raped, people disappear, hunger, gross unemployment, fallen literacy level; since it is unsafe for children to go to school, limited utilities like power supply and above all women against their religion and culture are now compelled to bury the death.
According to her, the amount of money America has spent to destroy Iraq could have been used to build and beside Iraq, America too has incurred losses considering the number of Americans who have lost their lives.In a modest manner after portraying the actual dilemma of the Iraqi people, Haifa said she is also learning and would welcome possible solutions and proposals by the women present to assist the Iraqi women in their struggle for peace and justice.
There were exhibition stands featuring books, arts and craft, natural products and organizations profiles.
According to Jaclyn Friedman, Program Director CNW and WAM Director in an exclusive interview, WAM initiative was suggested five years ago by CNW Executive Director, Laura Zimmerman, It started off with a panel for a one-day session and from positive responses turned to a three days conference.By Jaclyn's assessment, WAM 2008 went beyond her expectations. Participants have expressed their satisfaction, hence, although tired she is proud, please and inspired by all the wonderful ideas and talents exhibited during the conference. However, she can only speak further after the final evaluation but it is her intention and wish to make WAM 2009 even bigger and more powerful ' cause the turn out this year doubled last years.
From feedbacks WAM's come together has served as a platform for contacts, between Writers and Editors/Publishers, thus many more female articles have been published, Organizations have been strengthened, there have been links and collaboration Directors further expectation is to change the media landscape for good. She also extends her gratitude and appreciations to all who contributed and work relentlessly to make WAM 2008 a success.
Generally; Participants lauded the WAM Organizers and cannot wait for WAM 2009 especially for those who were attending for the first time.On a personally viewpoint, it can be deduced that, the forum WAM is geared towards working with women to make them make reflections and actions for a more equitable society, with the dynamic participation of the women.
Cecile Enie
WAM 2008 the fifth edition, was held at MIT's Stata Center in Cambridge MA from March 28th – 30th, and brought together six hundred participants chiefly from the US and Canada, then Iraq, Cameroon, Pakistan, Quatar and India for countries noted.
On Friday after breakfast, the Press had a Networking Pre- conference, moderated by Ann Friedman and E.J Graff, reviewing setbacks faced by the female Journalist and coming up with resolutions and solutions to ameliorate the situation.
The entire WAM conference had a rich package of forty sessions, which centered on the social, economic, educative, creative, legislative and religious/ cultural feminine issues with one hundred and three Presenters.Other activities at WAM 2008 were, Feminist Duck Tour of Boston, WAM! Benefit Reception – an intimate reception with Helen Thomas and Haifa Zangana to benefit the WAM! Scholarship & travel assistance funds, Saturday's Lunch Caucuses, an opportunity to gather, network and plan with people who share your interest. In a more relax setting was the Queer Women of Color (QWOC) + Boston Reception for women of color and friends and the WAM! Party by AlterNet. Also screened where films - Silent Choices a live Q&A with Filmmaker Faith Pennick, is a sixty minutes film about abortion and its personal and political impact on the lives of African American women. The film is a 'hybrid' documentary, part historical pieces, part social and religious analysis and part first person narrative.
- Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad / A little Bit of So Much Truth a ninety minutes film produced and directed by Irene Freidberg, is about a broad- based, non-violent, population uprising exploded in the Southern Mexican State of Oaxaca in the summer of 2006. Some compares it to the Paris Commune while others called it the first Latin American revolution of the 21st century, but it was the people's use of the media that truly made history in Oaxaca.
- Itty Bitty Titty Committee a sixty-eight minutes film directed by Jamie Babbitt. It Centered on Ann a shy, just –out-of–high –school lesbian, still living with her parents and working at a Plastic surgery clinic. She is coming out not as a gay but as a revolutionary. Itty Bitty Titty Communittee is a rockin'love song to the heady rush of sex, freedom and rebellion that happens when an everyday girl discovers her own strength and the righteousness indication needed to take action and change the world.
To further spice WAM 2008 were two formidable women as keynote Speakers. Friday Helen Thomas, first lady of the press and former White House Bureau Chief, shared her experiences, views and opinions. In her presentation, she cited that the media in her era was a male dominated profession – 'THE OLD BOYS' CLUB' as some women call it. When the men went for war, women filled the gap in professions like teaching and journalism. Women, who embraced the media, faced tough times and still do. Nonetheless, women need courage to meet challenges and make an impression. She is also dismay about the wars America has indulge in, adding that she asked one officer why he was at war and he said he had no idea.Helen Thomas has written many books, mostly based on her experiences.
Saturday Keynote talk with Haifa Zangana, Chair of Iraqi Patriots in Media and Culture (IPMC), Novelist, Columnist and former prisoner of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, touched many hearts perceived from the number of head gestures whilst she was delivering her speech.
Her account of her ordeal and the plight of present day Iraq, especially the women and children would leave any one with a pure conscience with goose bumps.Before the Iraqi people had just their government to deal with but today with allied forces like the US and others occupying Iraq, the situation of Iraq has change from bad to worse – mass destruction, men are killed, women raped, people disappear, hunger, gross unemployment, fallen literacy level; since it is unsafe for children to go to school, limited utilities like power supply and above all women against their religion and culture are now compelled to bury the death.
According to her, the amount of money America has spent to destroy Iraq could have been used to build and beside Iraq, America too has incurred losses considering the number of Americans who have lost their lives.In a modest manner after portraying the actual dilemma of the Iraqi people, Haifa said she is also learning and would welcome possible solutions and proposals by the women present to assist the Iraqi women in their struggle for peace and justice.
There were exhibition stands featuring books, arts and craft, natural products and organizations profiles.
According to Jaclyn Friedman, Program Director CNW and WAM Director in an exclusive interview, WAM initiative was suggested five years ago by CNW Executive Director, Laura Zimmerman, It started off with a panel for a one-day session and from positive responses turned to a three days conference.By Jaclyn's assessment, WAM 2008 went beyond her expectations. Participants have expressed their satisfaction, hence, although tired she is proud, please and inspired by all the wonderful ideas and talents exhibited during the conference. However, she can only speak further after the final evaluation but it is her intention and wish to make WAM 2009 even bigger and more powerful ' cause the turn out this year doubled last years.
From feedbacks WAM's come together has served as a platform for contacts, between Writers and Editors/Publishers, thus many more female articles have been published, Organizations have been strengthened, there have been links and collaboration Directors further expectation is to change the media landscape for good. She also extends her gratitude and appreciations to all who contributed and work relentlessly to make WAM 2008 a success.
Generally; Participants lauded the WAM Organizers and cannot wait for WAM 2009 especially for those who were attending for the first time.On a personally viewpoint, it can be deduced that, the forum WAM is geared towards working with women to make them make reflections and actions for a more equitable society, with the dynamic participation of the women.
Cecile Enie
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