I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour last night at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford. I’ll share our entire conversation later, but here are a few video outtakes from social media.
Read MoreConnecting Women Leaders to Accelerate Positive Change
This month, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, I’m convening a women’s leadership forum at the Rockefeller conference center in Bellagio, Italy. Along with Ronda Carnegie, one of the TEDWomen co-founders, we’re gathering a group of women leaders from all over the world on the frontlines of change in culture, media, business, social enterprises and government.
Women's History Month Is the Perfect Time to Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment
If you know the history of this struggle, you know that an ERA amendment was passed by Congress in 1972. But in order for an amendment to become part of the Constitution, it needs three-fourths of the states to ratify it and that hasn’t happened yet. But momentum around ratification is building and may happen very soon.
Read More
Organizers Kyra Gantois, 19, and Anuna De Wever, 17, at Brussels school strike on January 10, 2019 with over 3,500 marchers. The movement is growing. Earlier this month, the Brussels march included over 12,000 students. (Credit: Instagram)
These Young Women Might Save the Planet
One of anthropologist Margaret Mead’s most famous quotes instructs us to “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” We might amend Mead’s observation to honor a group of thoughtful, committed teenagers across the world standing against climate change.
Read More
Robert Redford spoke at the opening news conference for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival at the Eccles Theater in Park City, Jan. 24, 2019. (Credit: Getty Images)
Reflections on 10 Days at Sundance and Working Towards a Truly Inclusive Creative Journey
At SFF 2019, along with the most positive “buzz” I can remember about the films, the words often heard were “most diverse,” “most inclusive” — it was all that and more.
Read MoreHow Empowering Women and Girls Can Help Stop Global Warming
In an informative, bold TEDWomen talk, Project Drawdown author Katharine Wilkinson shares three key ways that empowering women and girls can help stop global warming. "Drawing down emissions depends on rising up," she says.
Read MoreThe Power of Reconnecting with Nature and Traveling with Purpose
Last year, I had the privilege of attending Roar Africa's inaugural Roar & Restore Retreat. Roar Africa is a woman-owned and -led company that offers specially designed experiences that combine Africa’s best safaris with adventures not included on the usual tourist itineraries. Experiences that are designed with purpose to go deeper, connecting participants with local communities and good work.
Read More3 Reasons I'm Grateful This Year
One of my favorite quotes is from the British writer Gilbert Chesterton: “Thanks are the highest form of thought and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” My happiness is indeed doubled by the wonder-filled work that is creating change for individuals, communities and the small, fragile world we share.
Women in Washington Get to Work
As Congress became a lot more diverse and female earlier this month, our president lashed out at women of color in the press. Meanwhile, the women of the 2019 Congress got to work in Washington, redefining how representation works.
Read MoreWhy It Matters When Women Lead in Politics and Why You Should Vote
For too long gender has determined who holds the decision-making power in this country and around the world — and that needs to change. Here’s hoping that tomorrow is the start of something.
Read MoreTalking With Tom Hanks About His New Book 'Uncommon Type'
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Hanks about his new collection of short stories, Uncommon Type: Some Stories as part of the MJCCCA Book Festival in Atlanta.
Read More
Taping with Veronica Dagher earlier this month in The Wall Street Journal studios.
WSJ Podcast: Using Media for Social Change
This week, I’m a guest on Veronica Dagher’s Wall Street Journal podcast talking about the importance of mentorship for women, my work with the Women's Media Center and the Sundance Institute, and my own career.
Read More
Ashley Judd (center), chair of WMC Speech Project, with New York Times journalists Megan Twohey (left) and Jodi Kantor (right), at the 2017 Women’s Media Awards, where Judd received the WMC Speaking Truth to Power Award from Gloria Steinem.
How the Media Has Covered #MeToo — And How It Can Do Better
A new report from The Women’s Media Center analyzes the impact of the #MeToo movement rising on news coverage in the nation’s major newspapers. In Year Two, there’s room for improvement in how the media reports on sexual violence and survivors.
Read More
Sign from the Women’s March in London, Jan. 21, 2017. (Photo: Caroline Gunston, Flickr / CC 2.0)
'Rage Becomes Her' — A New Book on the Transformative Power of Women's Anger
In her must-read new book, writer, activist and director of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project, Soraya Chemaly, explores why all of us — women and men, alike — are so uncomfortable with women expressing their anger and argues that women’s anger is one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting change.
Read MoreCity of Joy premieres on Netflix on September 7, 2018.
'City of Joy' Coming to Netflix!
This month, a film close to my heart comes to Netflix. City of Joy is the story of the profound resilience of the human spirit witnessing Congolese women's fierce will to reclaim hope, even when so much of what was meaningful to them has been stripped away.
Read MoreWomen Aren't Safe in Public Spaces, But These Women Are Working to Change That
Last month, I spoke with two activists, India’s ElsaMarie D’Silva and Agnes Igoye from Uganda, about the work that is being done to make women safer around the world. In this year of unprecedented attention to women, we are increasingly aware of their vulnerability to sexual violation, trafficking and other forms of abuse. Will we make those commitments?
Read More
The Tale stars Laura Dern and Isabelle Nelisse and is available on HBO now.
True Impact Filmmaking: Emmy-Nominated Jennifer Fox's 'The Tale'
This week I want to offer space on my blog to a woman I admire very much. Jennifer Fox is a very talented independent filmmaker. For her most recent film, The Tale, which has two Emmy nominations, Jennifer took enormous risks and they are paying off with impact that is changing people’s lives.
Read More
Actress Michelle Yeoh in a scene from "Crazy Rich Asians." (Photo by Sanja Bucko) © 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and SK Global Entertainment
Getting to 50/50 Onscreen: 'We All Lose Without Diversity'
This week heralds the release of “Crazy Rich Asians,” a new Hollywood film that is an adaptation of the best-selling book by Kevin Kwan, which has already sold millions of copies. Will “Crazy Rich Asians” be another Halley’s Comet or a new constellation that lights up Hollywood?
Read More
(l-r) Linda Villarosa, Dr. Deborah Rhodes, Dr. Paula Johnson and Pat Mitchell.
Racism and Research: Barriers to Better Health Outcomes for Women
Once again this summer, I had the privilege of moderating sessions during the Spotlight Health Aspen Institute Ideas Festival. I want to share some surprising and important information that surfaced in one of our sessions.
Read MoreDemocracy in Color: She the People. Women of Color Lead.
Women are rising in America, and in many places, being led by women of color, proving by their votes, their voices and their leadership that they are a force for change.