The Women’s Media Group marks its 50th anniversary with celebrations

The Women’s Media Group (WMG) commemorated its 50th anniversary with a glamorous gala held at the New-York Historical Society on the Upper West Side on March 25. The event drew over 200 members of the professional association, featuring a delightful array of activities including a cocktail mixer, silent auction, keynote interview, and award ceremony. Notably, the evening also marked the launch of the WMG Forever Project, an archive and oral history initiative of the organization, announced by WMG copresidents Jodi Brockington and Jennifer A. Perry.

Established in the autumn of 1974, WMG opted to celebrate its milestone in March, coinciding with Women’s History Month, and also as a nod to Gloria Steinem’s 90th birthday. A significant majority, approximately 80%, of WMG’s members are involved in the book publishing industry.

The gala’s keynote interview featured renowned author Gretchen Rubin, conducted by WMG president emeritus Kathy Sandler. Rubin, acclaimed for her work “The Happiness Project,” highlighted her pioneering use of blogging to connect with audiences before her debut book release. She emphasized the value of direct connections with audiences through mediums like newsletters and podcasts.

The evening’s awards ceremony recognized several notable individuals and initiatives in the media landscape. Honorees included the Brooklyn Public Library’s innovative Books Unbanned initiative, editor and literary agent Marie Dutton Brown, Bloomsbury senior editor Amber Oliver, literary nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, Abrams president and CEO Mary McAveney, TalentFairy founder and CEO Chandra Turner, and Meet the Writers founder and executive director Michele Weisman.

Author and Brooklyn Public Library board chair Nina Lorez Collins accepted the Champion of Media Award on behalf of the BPL and its Books Unbanned initiative, which offers access to digital copies of banned books to teens across the U.S. Marie Dutton Brown, a trailblazing figure in the publishing world, reflected on her esteemed career while accepting the Media Trailblazer Award.

Bloomsbury senior editor Amber Oliver received the Media Superstar Award, presented by her sister, Naomi Spratley, a WMG Scholar and Macmillan contracts assistant. We Need Diverse Books president and CEO Ellen Oh accepted the Diversity Advocate Award, underscoring the organization’s commitment to promoting diversity in children’s literature despite facing challenges such as book banning.

Overall, the gala was a fitting tribute to WMG’s rich legacy and ongoing dedication to advancing diversity and excellence in the media industry.

Repurposed article originally published in Pw news