To celebrate our 100th post, we decided to look back at our aims at the beginning of Empoword Journalism and explain why we think it is so important.
Offering the exposure of unheard voices and giving a platform to aspiring writers in the unmotivating climate we’re currently in is so important. For myself, this project allows me to discuss views with other like-minded writers and empower other unrepresented journalists in getting their voices noticed. – Megan Price (@meganrprice)
This project is important because it unites women across the country; creating a network of women and non-binary journalists. This network is key to support journalists emerging into a male-dominated industry where it is difficult to be taken seriously. I’m so excited to see where this project will go and to work with/learn from these incredible women – Orla McAndrew (@OrlaMMcAndrew2)
When I was on work experience for a well-known magazine, the editorial meeting was exclusively men. The only women working for the magazine were photocopiers and teamakers. But, women creatives are more than that – we just need to be given the chance. So, this project is important because sexism is still alive and well in the industry, and we owe it to the next generation of journalists to change that. – Charlotte Colombo
This project is so important because it links women and non-binary journalists from across the world, allowing them to support each other and learn more about the industry as well as share their work. Women empowering women is so powerful and this project can help to raise the confidence, aspirations, and experience of any women who are interested in a career in journalism – Lucy Martin (@lucymjourno)
It’s an incredible opportunity to create a supportive network of talented journalists. There’s no denying that sexism is a prominent issue in this industry and this platform is a wonderful way to encourage those who have and will face it in their working life. This project has created a safe space where we can inspire and support each other as we work to achieve recognition in our field as individuals and as a powerful group of professionals. – Amy Murray (@Amy_Nomey)
There is no denying that sexism exists within the workplace and the gender gap it has created. Women are often placed under a lot of pressure to be viewed on the same platform as that of their male counterparts. That is why our project is so crucial. It provides young and underrepresented journalists with their own platform to finally speak and be heard. We have created a community where we are not judged or challenged, a place where we can grow as journalists, a place where sexism is a thing of the past. – Madeline Raine (@RaineMadeleine)
This is a fantastic platform for women and non-binary journalists from around the world to express how they feel in such an uncertain time in history. We are very often underrepresented in the media industry, and so it’s important that we come out in full force and flaunt the great creative talents that we have! The Women in Journalism network is very supportive and is a brilliant platform to share your work with other like-minded people for honest feedback. After the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope that the platform can continue to thrive and be a safe space for women and non-binary journalists to network and connect. – Jane Corscadden (@janeinator)
Nowadays everyone’s a journalist. And with news being shared on social media it isn’t hard to see why. But still, it’s the white man who is ‘seen’ as the journalist, and it’s exactly this project that wants to tackle that. These young women journalists are ready to fight for their rights when it comes to equality of opportunity in the workplace and the wider world. And a collaborative project that supports and enables them to do exactly that is the first step forward – Meghna Amin (@_meghnaamin)
So many young creatives are making amazing work from the confines of their home – this project gives them the platform to share it with other journalists and the public, creating a community of encouragement and innovation that is really needed in such uncertain times. – Cerys Turner (@cerysturner7)
I feel that in traditional journalism, men are assigned political, economic “serious” news, whereas women are assigned to showbiz, fashion, and celebrity gossip and I want this to change. – Lindsay Smith
I think this project will help to provide a network of support for talented women interested in pursuing a journalism career, who may often feel overlooked in favour of men. Reading and watching the impressive works produced by others similar to themselves will help to inspire and raise the confidence as well as ambitions of aspiring women in journalism. It will also be an important platform to offer advice and suggestions so that we can all produce the best work we can. – Issy Griffiths
It’s easy for the journalism industry to feel exclusive. This project enables us to come together, share our skills and experiences, and build up an invaluable support network. In a world that often makes women feel they need to compete with each other; this project offers much-needed relief. – Lucy Williamson
Women and non-binary individuals in journalism are pressured to look and act in a certain way and consequently, there is a notable difference in the opportunities which journalists of different genders receive. This project proves that women can report on anything rather than just the ‘soft’ news which women in journalism are often associated with and encourages women and non-binary individuals to work together to make their way into the newsrooms so heavily dominated by white, middle-aged men. – Ella Gilbert (@ellagilbertx)
As a young woman looking to get into the industry of journalism, this project is very important to me personally. From what I’ve experienced already, it’s hard to be confident in an industry so heavily dominated by men and so I feel proud to be part of something which can empower people like myself! It’s provided me with a safe space to meet others who can inspire me to reach my goals & encourage me to push myself to be the best journalist I can be. I’m so excited to see where this project takes me – Holly Hostettler-Davies (@Hollyhd2002)
This project is important in times like these because so many people are watching the news. It still, unfortunately, seems like when female journalist is on screen there is more hate sent towards them than their male counterparts which as a young woman just beginning official training is so disheartening. This project is a place where women can support women. By supporting each other, it really pushes every single one of us into honing our skills, trying new skills and enables people keeping up to date with the project to see honest accounts from young women in journalism. – Jessica Sharkey (@jessmsharkey)
It allows those in journalism to stay connected and help each other out, which is especially important when we feel so isolated at the moment. So many of us are in completely different parts of the UK, which is amazing, and having this platform allows us to stay on the same page when we’re geographically so far apart. It gives us extra connections for those about to enter the industry and encourages aspiring journalists to get a head start into the industry. – Niamh Doyle (@NiamhChristina)
It is so important and necessary to have a space like this for women and non-binary journalists to come together. This great sense of unity has not only meant that we have a platform for people to share and discuss great pieces of work and things that need to be heard, but also that we have a network of people to feel empowered by and learn from. I can’t wait to see what Empoword Journalism does going forward. – Amy Holliday (@amy_holliday01)
Empoword Journalism provides a much-needed space and platform to create, share, and improve our work. In being a part of this project, I have seen such a high level of kindness and willingness to support and help each other. Our aim is to collectively share our resources and skills that can then be applied in the workplace. Empowering ourselves and each other to allow our reflections, opinions, and voices to be heard is at the core of this project. I cannot wait to see how far we go. – Elle Woods-Marshall (@ewoodsmarshall)
Empoword Journalism is an extremely relevant project as it was built on the idea of young creatives supporting one another on our individual journeys into the competitive world of journalism. As a group, we share ideas, contacts, advice, and most importantly kindness to collectively lift each other up and to ensure that our project is both positive and inclusive. The project has grown from an idea in a webinar group chat to a platform on all socials producing amazing content each day, showcasing the amazing talent of the young creatives already involved. It is so important to have a platform in which young, aspiring journalists can do this. – Isabelle Raikes (@IssyRaikes)
Empoword Journalism has been such an important space for me to connect with other like-minded women journalists and share ideas collaboratively. As our project has grown we’ve been able to share skills and learn from each other which I’ve found really beneficial. Not only is this a place where we can share our work and build our portfolio but it is also a supportive network within its own right. I can’t wait to see what’s to come for us going forward! – Lauren McGaun (@lauren_mcgaun)
The Empoword Journalism project is not only important because it offers voluntary online journalism experience but because it grants every contributor a voice. Our platform provides an opportunity for women of all backgrounds to be heard, in a safe space, with the potential to reach a vast audience which I believe to be incredibly powerful. Through our platform, we are connected from all corners of the UK and I am really grateful to be writing alongside such talented writers! Excited to see what’s next for Empoword Journalism! – Laura Buckle
We are so proud of what we have achieved so far, keep up to date with us on on our socials to see what we do next!
Featured image courtesy of Seyedeh Hamideh Kazemi via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.