Welcome to Technology for Publishing’s roundup of news highlighting women’s roles, contributions, and achievements in the evolving media business. This latest installment covers women taking top positions in the creative world, slow but steady advances for women in ad-tech, gender roles in journalism, and more.
- In the past six months, six women have taken top roles at leading creative agencies, Adweek reported (five of the creative chiefs shown right). It said those firms choosing female leaders in a field known for gender imbalance in its upper ranks include FCB, Young & Rubicam, Wieden + Kennedy, Ogilvy & Mather, and Wunderman. Other industry strides include mandates by the Art Directors Club and the Clios that there be an equal number of male and female jurors and efforts such as DDB’s mission to identify and remove obstacles that keep women from advancing in their creative careers and increase its percentage of females in top roles from 10% today to 50% within five years.
- In the ad-tech space, women are making advances as well despite its equally dismal track record on gender equality: only 2.9% of ad-tech CEOs are female, and at Google, Facebook, Apple, and other tech companies, statistics show male staff outnumber women employees four to one, noted Adweek. But one of a growing number of examples of slow but steady progress is AOL Platforms, which says its staff is 49% female. “Companies are motivating and creating environments that encourage [the advancement of women] and make it possible,” said CMO Allie Kline. “So I think you’ll definitely see an increase in the number of women in the field.”
- However, a recent study from the University of Kansas found that in journalism, traditional gender roles persist more than we’d like to believe. Its research showed that compared with their male counterparts, female journalists are more likely to abandon their career choice, are more uncertain about their jobs, and suffer from greater burnout. Female respondents also said they get less support from their employers, a Fishbowl NY report said.
- Here’s a great list to check out: 39 cool start-ups founded by females, many of which are making their mark in the media world and beyond with innovative apps and technology as well as new business models. For example, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg left their jobs at NBC to start theSkimm, a daily newsletter that delivers top stories to subscribers each morning. The pair have already raised $7.8 million in funding. You can read the success stories of these and other women inventors and entrepreneurs on Business Insider‘s site.
- New York Magazine recently interviewed the first female editor of Vice, Ellis Jones, about her plans for the publication, which the report said in the past was known for its “lewd masculinity” and “hedonistic fun house for alt bros” reputation. While Jones, 30, noted that she’s aware she’s become the spokesmodel for gender politics at Vice, she’s most concerned with expanding the print magazine’s reach while preserving its unique approach to covering popular topics. “I’m trying to figure out how to bring in an audience we never had before,” Jones said. “To make them realize that it’s not a lad’s mag.”
- Five women were awarded individual Pulitzer prizes in journalism categories this year, the most awards given to individual female journalists since 2010, Poynter reported. In addition, one woman won as part of a team. The five individual winners were Carol D. Leonnig of The Washington Post for national reporting, Diana Marcum of the Los Angeles Times for feature writing, Lisa Falkenberg of the Houston Chronicle for commentary, Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times for criticism, and Kathleen Kingsbury of The Boston Globe for editorial writing.
- Hiring news roundup: Former Morgan Stanley CFO Ruth Porat joined Google as its new CFO, Nylon Media named Carrie Reynolds to the newly created role of president of revenue, Kim Martin is now chief strategy officer at Meredith Corp., Stephanie Dolgins became Tumblr’s first chief marketing officer, Emily Taylor was appointed editor of InStyle Australia, Rory Evans was named Food Network Magazine’s executive editor, Kathy Kiely joined Bloomberg as Washington news director, Heather Muir is now beauty director at Real Simple, Glamour recruited Kimberly Bernhardt as executive director of communications, Time Inc. UK appointed Lisa Batty advertising marketing director, The New York Times promoted Meredith Kopit Levien to chief revenue officer, Joyce Jenereaux will take over as president and publisher of the Detroit Free Press, former Obama aide Johanna Maska has joined the Los Angeles Times as vice president of marketing and communications, Emily Anne Epstein was named visual editor at The Atlantic, and GQ appointed Diane Mattioli executive director, luxury and video.
Let us know in the comments if there are any other recent stories or career moves you’d like us to include in our next Women in Media roundup.
Image: Adweek
Technology for Publishing’s Women in Media blog highlights the news and achievements of female leaders and role models in the publishing and media industry. Look for our in-depth profiles and interviews of top women to watch. Is there someone you’d like to nominate for an upcoming Q&A? Drop us a note!
Posted by: Monica Sambataro
