Women in Media in every state and territory

Women in Media has become truly national, with the launch of two new committees giving the not-for-profit organisation a presence in every state and territory.

Women in the Northern Territory and Tasmania have started up their own WiM committees in recent months. This adds to our existing committees in Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Far North Queensland, ACT, SA and Victoria.

It gives WiM the clout to advocate for change, implement mentoring programs and support women working in the media industry across the entire country.

“Women in Media now has a presence in every state and territory, and more than 80 women working on committees across the country,’’ WiM national co-chairs Kathy McLeish and Cath Webber said.

“This is a credit to hard-working women across Australia who volunteer their time to work on WiM committees and drive the push towards gender equality.

“We’re so proud of now being a fully national organisation, with the ability to connect with women working across the country.’’

WiM Australia is a mentoring and networking initiative for Australian women working in the media that started in Perth in 2005 and expanded to the east coast and South Australia from 2013 to 2017 under inaugural national convenor Tracey Spicer. The organisation aims to equip, inspire and empower women working in the media and represented in the media.

The organisation has offered annual mentoring programs through state and territory committee since its inception.

Today, Women in Media announces a new national mentoring initiative in addition to these programs that will help us to reach even more media women.

The new program takes a cutting-edge scientific approach to match mentees and mentors.

Women in Media has also launched a new Connector program – a scholarship to help women attend our national conference now in its third year. A woman who works solo in one of the most remote newsrooms in the country and a Tasmanian freelancer who has written for the Koori Mail for 13 years are among the first recipients.

“Our national conference is designed to equip, elevate, and empower. We set-up the Connector program because we wanted to help as many women as possible to take advantage of this unmissable opportunity,’’ Kathy McLeish and Cath Webber said.

With this in mind, WiM is also building new connections with women working in the Pacific and continuing to offer the life-changing Caroline Jones Women in Media Young Journalist Award for young regional and rural journalists.

Women in Media’s new chapter is celebrated with a new look, with our fresh logo launched today. We also have a new national website – womeninmedia.com.au – up and running.

It’s an online community where you can find events in any state or territory and connect with your local committee. We also have a national sign-up page to ensure you keep in touch with all the WiM news from across the country.

WiM has big plans for the coming years and to achieve them has modified its relationship with MEAA.

This is a financial decision which will allow WiM to expand its national operations and enter into sponsorship agreements to raise funds for future projects and innovation.

WiM and MEAA will always be closely aligned in their quest for equality for women working in the media and represented in the media.

Thanks to Bond University our Foundation Partner, the Queensland Government as major sponsor of the 2019 Women in Media National Conference, as well as major media sponsor the ABC, media sponsors Channel 7, Channel 9 and Channel 10, and sponsors Westpac, RACV Royal Pines, Bartley Cohen Lawyers and Frizelle Sunshine Automotive.