The Women’s Media Center is proud to announce our host and honorees for the 2016 Women’s Media Awards, to be held on September 29, 2016, at Capitale in New York City.
The event will be hosted for the first time by Sally Field, the two-time Academy Award-winning and multiple Emmy-winning star of “Hello, My Name is Doris,” who will be returning to Broadway in March 2017 starring as Amanda in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie.” Gayle King, co-anchor of “CBS This Morning” and three-time Emmy winner, will give the opening remarks at the awards.
The honorees will be:
Samantha Bee, host of TBS’ “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”; longtime correspondent on “The Daily Show”; co-creator of the upcoming sitcom “The Detour”; and author, who will receive the Women’s Media Center History Making Award.
Salma Hayek Pinault, Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nominated actor; Emmy-winning director; award-winning producer; co-founder of CHIME FOR CHANGE; and activist, who will receive the Women’s Media Center Sisterhood is Global Award.
Joy Reid, political analyst for MSNBC; host of “AM Joy”; and author, who will receive the Women’s Media Center Carol Jenkins Visible and Powerful Media Award.
Anita Sarkeesian, award-winning creator and executive director of Feminist Frequency; host of video series “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games”; media critic; blogger; and public speaker, who will receive the Women’s Media Center Digital Media Award.
Regina K. Scully, three-time Emmy-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated producer; executive producer, founder and CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation; founder and CEO of RPR Marketing Communications; and activist, who will receive the Women’s Media Center Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award.
The announcement was made by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem, co-founders of the Women’s Media Center.
The Women’s Media Awards recognize and honor game-changers for women in media. By deciding who gets to talk, what creates the debate, who writes, and what is important enough to be visible, the media shapes our understanding of who we are and what we can be. The Women’s Media Awards shine a light on this important issue.
“I am delighted that Sally Field will be joining us to host our gala this year,” says Women’s Media Center co-founder Robin Morgan. “Not only is Sally a brilliant actor who has been deservedly honored with awards for her unforgettable portrayals of women whose strength shines through the most trying of circumstances, she is also a director and producer who has created outstanding work, and a consistent, outspoken activist for women’s rights. I can’t wait to welcome Sally and am proud to have her take the stage for our Women’s Media Awards.”
The Women’s Media Center History Making Award will be presented to Samantha Bee. “I am so glad that we will be honoring Samantha Bee, a center of energy, enlightenment and intelligence in political comedy,” says Gloria Steinem, a co-founder of the Women’s Media Center. “The power to make people laugh is also a power, which means comedy hasn’t always been equally open to women. Samantha brings with her the rarest of powers — she makes us laugh and learn at the same time.”
The Women’s Media Center Sisterhood is Global Award will be presented to Salma Hayek Pinault. “Salma Hayek Pinault is an amazing example of the worldwide impact that can be made by a woman of talent, generosity, and courage,” says Women’s Media Center co-founder Jane Fonda. “Even beyond her beautiful and deeply vulnerable work as an actor, Salma has broken so many barriers with her bold enterprise as a producer, pushing through fierce challenges to bring to fruition works of deep integrity and meaningful impact. In addition, Salma continues to bravely speak out for women and the underserved around the globe, fighting powerfully against discrimination and domestic violence. I can’t imagine a better example of an honorable, empowered woman than Salma Hayek Pinault.”
The Women’s Media Center Carol Jenkins Visible and Powerful Media Award will be presented to Joy Reid. “Joy Reid is an outstanding journalist,” says Carol Jenkins, founding and former president of the Women’s Media Center. “In a tough political season, she is one of the few who asks the hard questions and insists on honest answers. Talk about visible and powerful—she has carved out and offers a rare space of truth for viewers and voters. Brava!”
The Women’s Media Center Digital Media Award will be presented to Anita Sarkeesian. “Anita Sarkeesian is a powerful example of a woman boldly challenging and changing our culture,” says Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center. “In exposing misogyny in video game culture and promoting alternatives, she has bravely taken on the multi-billion dollar gaming industry, a highly influential media form in the shaping of imaginations. Despite being sexually harassed, doxed, and subjected to mob attacks that include violent rape and death threats, she continues to challenge media sexism and to produce innovative story-telling content depicting strong women characters. Anita is doing crucial work re-examining and creating today’s media.”
The Women’s Media Center Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Regina K. Scully. “For over 30 years, Regina K. Scully has been a shining light and a true leader in the media field,” says Pat Mitchell, founding co-chair of the Women’s Media Center. “The incredible range of films that she has boldly produced have led us to essential and challenging truths about our society, while her insightful philanthropy has continually looked to build new opportunities for reform in education, women in film, and transformative art. Regina is truly a powerhouse, whose outstanding life’s work we are proud to honor.”
“I am so proud that the Women’s Media Center will be honoring such a diverse range of accomplished women this year,” says Women’s Media Center co-founder Robin Morgan. “These women, in the courage and skill of their achievements, and in their bold speaking out against bigotry and for empowerment, have been challenging how we all see the world and are changing the world itself for the better.”
To buy tickets or for more information about the 2016 Women’s Media Awards and the ongoing work of the Women’s Media Center, go to: www.womensmediacenter.com.
