Women have been making great strides in both the media and publishing industries. Over the past decade, we have seen a rise in female directors, writers, editors and other leaders in the fields of media and publishing. This month we have the honor of featuring four women who have become leaders both in their fields and in raising awareness on the challenges that continue to hinder women’s advancement in these industries.
Anna Quindlen
Anna Quindlen is a Barnard Alumna and the author of six previous bestselling novels and eight nonfiction books. Her New York Times column “Public and Private” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. From 2000-2009, She wrote the “Last Word” column for Newsweek.
Lexi Alexander
Lexi Alexander is an Oscar-Nominated director and filmmaker who has been outspoken about the challenges that women face in the film industry. While studying acting and directing at the Piero Dusa Acting Conservatory and UCLA she directed a short film, Johnny Flynton, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2003. Since, she has directed films such as Green Street Hooligans and Punisher: War Zone. Recently, Alexander published a blog post “getting real” about the difficulties women face in the film industry that quickly went viral. In it she wrote “Repeat after me: THERE IS NO LACK OF FEMALE DIRECTORS. But there is a huge lack of people willing to give female directors opportunities.” Alexander also spoke at the 2014 Athena Film Festival. She is an excellent example not only of a female leader but one who challenges and raises awareness about the position of women in the industry today.
Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin
In 2012, Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin launched The Skimm, a daily newsletter that provides easily digestible news for busy women on the go. Over the past two years The Skimm has grown immensely in popularity and was named by Fast Company as the “must-read newsletter for women.” Weisberg and Zakin are excellent examples of women leaders in both media and entrepreneurship.
Regan Solmo