Creating Careers Based on Uplifting Women's Voices

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Creating Careers Based on Uplifting Women’s Voices
11/16/2023 by International Women’s Media Foundation

Feminist journalism is essential to public discourse. It is essential to political debate. And it absolutely essential to free and fair democracy. Explore more at Feminist Journalism is Essential to Democracy—Ms. magazine’s latest installment of Women & Democracy, presented in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation.


Elisa Lees Muñoz at the IWMF Courage in Journalism Awards on Oct. 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.; Cindi Leive at the Fast Company Innovation Festival at the 92nd Street Y on Oct. 25, 2018 in New York City. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for IWMF) (Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for Fast Company)
The Ms. Q&A: Elisa Lees Muñoz and Cindi Leive

Elisa Lees Muñoz is the executive director of the International Women’s Media Foundation, a role she has held since 2013. Lees Muñoz leads the organization to achieve its mission to support women journalists and develop their careers by providing training, tools and assistance. She is charged with growing the IWMF by expanding its programs into new geographies; introducing new initiatives; partnering with peer organizations; securing diverse organizational funding; and, driving communications and outreach to core constituents. Lees Muñoz oversees a team of more than 15 individuals dedicated to supporting gender-diverse journalists.

Cindi Leive is a journalist, media leader and co-founder of The Meteor, a collective of journalists, artists, media leaders and filmmakers committed to building a platform for modern feminist work. A cultural critic who appears frequently on TV and live events, she is the former editor-in-chief of both Glamour and Self magazines; the force behind barrier-breaking initiatives like Glamour Women of the Year (the country’s preeminent event showcasing women) and The Girl Project (supporting girls’ education); and the author or producer of numerous books including the 2018 New York Times bestseller Together We Rise, about the making of the Women’s March. Leive has interviewed heads of state, Hollywood and fashion’s biggest personalities, and iconic leaders from all walks of life. Her many awards and honors include recognition from the White House, the United Nations, and various media organizations. She is currently a senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center.

Both Lees Muñoz and Leive have built their decades-long careers creating and uplifting reporting by and for women. In the conversation below, the two journalists discuss the risks women in the news face, the importance of women-centered and feminist reporting, and how we can best protect press freedom.

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https://msmagazine.com/2023/11/16/elisa-lees-munoz-cindi-leive/