International Women's Media Foundation (iwmf)

Since 1990, the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) has attempted to release the capability of ladies columnists as protectors of press freedom to change the news media in the world. The foundation makes an effort to guarantee that women writers worldwide are completely supported, protected, recognized and rewarded for their crucial work at all levels of the news media. According to the IWMF, news media worldwide is not truly free and represented equally with the voice of women. It celebrates the courage of women journalists who overcome threats and oppression to speak out on global issues. Through their projects, they engage women columnists with the training, opportunities, and support to become pioneers in the news business.

The IWMF engages in certain programs as part of their work: The IWMF Emergency Fund was established in 2013 to provide women journalists with financial support during a crisis. The crisis could come as a result of reporting the risky news stories. The support provided includes grants for psychological and medical care for incidents that might occur in the field, temporary relocation in the event of a threat, Legal aid to counter threats of imprisonment or censorship, non-financial assistance in the form of information about access to additional resources. Adelante recognizes the work of Latin American women journalists by strengthening professional development, impact and safety of nearly 300 women journalists.

Created in 2014, the African Great Lakes Reporting Initiative supports journalists pursue stories that go beyond the well-established path of political instability, armed conflicts, and humanitarian crises in the region. Journalists are also trained to keep themselves secure and safe in the field. This initiative has helped bring forth stories of empowerment, democracy, food security, and conservation efforts that formerly went unreported.

The IWMF also deals with certain issues: In order to report the atrocities in the world, journalists often put their lives in danger. The foundation recognizes these daring women journalists for their work and supports their belief in freedom of press.

Women journalists are underrepresented in the digital media world due to lack of funds and training. Through the foundation’s entrepreneurship programs, IWMF aims to close the gender gap in ownership of digital media. This is achieved by providing women journalists seed funding and coaching, and by giving them the tools required to establish themselves as media entrepreneurs. Women journalists are in the danger of being killed, threatened, assaulted, and defamed as they go out in search for the truth. The foundation takes a stand against this kind of brutality by providing much-needed emergency assistance, research about the problem, awareness raising and preventative security training for women journalists.

The IWMF provides women journalists the training required to become decision-makers within their news organizations. IWMF Leadership Programs provide women journalists the opportunity to learn first-hand from leaders in the field. This helps empower women leaders. The International Women's Media Foundation provides all the support women journalists of the present world need in order for them to pursue the truth they set out for, and to help women leaders come up in their respective fields.