20 Years of Progress: Women’s Media Center Celebrates Trailblazers in Journalism and Advocacy

Last week at the JW Marriott Essex House, the Women’s Media Center (WMC) celebrated its 20th anniversary in grand style. The annual Women’s Media Awards, a flagship event honoring bold voices and transformative figures in media, returned this year with heightened significance and a powerful message: women’s voices matter, and the fight for representation is far from over.

The sold-out gala brought together an influential crowd of journalists, activists, executives, and supporters committed to changing the face — and voice — of media. At the heart of the evening was the recognition of five dynamic women who are reshaping media narratives and opening doors for the next generation.

Honoring Voices That Drive Change

Geralyn White Dreyfous, an award-winning film producer and co-founder of Impact Partners, received the WMC Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award for her commitment to storytelling that spotlights social justice and elevates underrepresented voices.

S. Mitra Kalita, journalist, author, and co-founder of URL Media and Epicenter NYC, was presented with the WMC Carol Jenkins Award, celebrating her work in community-based media and inclusive journalism.

Harvard professor and acclaimed author Imani Perry was honored with the WMC Progressive Women’s Voices Impact Award for her scholarship and thought leadership at the intersection of race, gender, and American culture.

Erica Smiley, Executive Director of Jobs With Justice and author, received the WMC Progressive Women’s Voices Impact Award for her advocacy in labor and economic justice.

Jessica Valenti, author and founder of Abortion, Every Day, was also awarded the WMC Progressive Women’s Voices Impact Award, applauded for her bold and unflinching voice in the fight for reproductive rights.

An Evening with Feminist Icons

The evening’s hosts and presenters were nothing short of legendary. WMC’s co-founders — Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan — each took to the stage, reflecting on the Center’s two-decade journey and urging guests to keep pushing the envelope.

Julie Burton, WMC President and CEO, addressed the audience with a resonant message: “When we launched the Women’s Media Center 20 years ago, our vision was clear: to amplify women’s voices in every media corner. We’ve made enormous strides, but the work continues. These awards are not just about honoring individuals — they’re about powering a movement.”

Board Chair Janet Dewart Bell, Board Co-Chair Emerita Pat Mitchell, and an impressive list of board members, including Erica González Martínez, Soraya Chemaly, and Regina K. Scully, were also in attendance, lending their support and applauding this year’s trailblazers.

Scully, a longtime WMC leader and executive producer of Women’s Media Center Live, summed up the evening’s spirit:“It’s a privilege to honor the women who are shaping our culture and leading the charge toward equity in media.”

A Powerhouse Coalition

The evening’s success was backed by an esteemed group of co-chairs, including Loreen Arbus, Sheryl Sandberg, Mellody Hobson, Susan Pritzker, and Sophia Yen, among others. Proceeds from the gala will go directly to funding WMC programs that train, support, and promote women in media.

Carrying the Torch

Over the years, WMC has honored a remarkable roster of women — from Hillary Rodham Clinton to Mariska Hargitay, America Ferrera, Christiane Amanpour, Joy Reid, Padmasree Warrior, and more. This year’s honorees join a legacy of powerhouses who have shifted the media landscape through courage, creativity, and conviction.

Founded by Fonda, Morgan, and Steinem, the Women’s Media Center remains one of the nation’s leading feminist organizations working at the intersection of gender, race, and media. Through media training programs, investigative journalism, expert promotion platforms like SheSource, and robust reporting through its Media Lab, WMC continues to spotlight inequality while giving women the tools to rewrite the story.

As the event closed, there was a clear feeling in the room: the past 20 years have paved the way — but the next chapter of women’s media is just beginning.