Welcome!

Women’s Media Group is a New York-based nonprofit association of women who have achieved prominence in the many fields of media. Our members, drawn from book, magazine, and newspaper publishing; film, television, online and other digital media, meet, collaborate, inform and support one another as well as mentoring young women interested in publishing careers.  Find out more on the About Us page.

Next WMG lunch: Find out why Amazon, B&N and Indies are buzzing about introverts!

At January’s WMG Luncheon, we welcome Susan Cain, author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts In a World that Can’t Stop Talking, who will tell us about the surprising advantages of being an introvert and how managers can capitalize on the leadership potential of the quiet, perceptive, emotionally complex people who are often at the heart of creative industries like ours – and who represent almost 50% of Americans.

Many of WMG’s board members remember the buzz about this proposal five years ago - and everything seems to be going right for this book, which is edited by Rachael Klayman at Crown (editor of President Obama’s  books and Rebecca Skloot’s runaway bestseller The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks). It has been chosen as an Amazon Best Books of the Month pick, a Barnes & Noble Best Books of the Month pick, and an Indie Next List pick.

Susan Cain will be joining us the week after her book goes on sale – so we have an early jump on this fascinating subject and author, whose work on introversion and shyness has appeared in the New York Times, on NPR, and on PsychologyToday.com. She has taught negotiation and communication skills at law firms, universities, and corporations, including Merrill Lynch, Shearman & Sterling, and the University of Chicago, and she practiced law on Wall Street for seven years. She is also an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School.

The luncheon will be held at 12:30 on Monday, January 30, at the 21 Club, 21 West 52nd Street.

Go to Member Center>Event Information & RSVP for all details.

Calling all New Member Nominations!

Women’s Media Group has had an exciting year filled with stellar programming and new kinds of activities and benefits (thanks to the hardest-working board in publishing).
 
Now that 2011 is winding up and our annual membership period is beginning, I’d like to recap some highlights:
 
·       Powerhouse luncheon speakers, including Diane Ravitch, Gretchen Morgenson, Gillian Tett of Financial Times, and Whitney Hill of Sony;
·       Sharply targeted and well-attended, member-led “brown-bag lunch” workshops, including one on e-book basics; another on using Facebook for book promotion, and one on digital book publishing by agents;
·       Significant member discounts for the most important upcoming industry conferences plus discounts on services such as ZipCar, and on continuing-ed courses;
·       Numerous small-group dinners, hosted by individual members in their homes: These have been a great way to get to know more members and, for me, to collect some delicious new recipes;
·       Our first-ever breakfast networking event, elegantly hosted at William Morris, and a great way to start the business day.
 
We have a new website, enhanced communications, and much more excellent programming coming up in 2012. The group energy is high and we’re keeping dues and fees as low as possible.
 
This is the perfect time to share your own enthusiasm for WMG with a few choice colleagues or media industry friends and encourage them to join us. We want to grow!
 
Details on new-member nominations can be found by clicking on the Member Center tab above and selecting New Member Nomination Information.
 
I hope to see you in the new year,
Anne Kostick
President 

It’s a WMG Logo Contest!

Calling you and your creative associates.

It’s time for a new Women’s Media Group logo and identity. To get a fresh look and to engage our members and talented colleagues, we’ve created this logo design contest. As you’ll see from the description below, it is open to all Women’s Media Group members and the women colleagues we work with at all levels of experience and tenure. This is a fabulous opportunity to do creative work that gets noticed…and a chance to have one’s work selected as our new logo and website header design. For more details, go to the contest page under the Member Center Tab.

Celebrate the Season at Our Holiday Party December 8!

Thursday, December 8
6:30-8:30pm
Faces and Names
159 West 54th Street
(Right off 7th Avenue)

We had a great time at last year's party, in spite of the weather. We're looking forward to seeing everyone at this year's event, same time and place, for networking, reconnecting, and making introductions.

There's no charge for this event, and you're welcome to bring a guest, especially a potential new WMG member.

You must RSVP, and do it now, please--space is limited. Go to Members Center> Event Information

See you there!

What Can Publishing Learn from the Music Industry as We Blaze Our Trail into the Digital Future? Find out at our November 14th luncheon.

At November’s WMG Luncheon, we welcome Whitney Hill, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships in Sony Music’s Global Digital Business team. Whitney is responsible for leading Sony Music’s partnership with digital brands and services like YouTube and VEVO. Her team works closely with iTunes, Spotify and Internet radio services like Pandora and Slacker.

As Sony works with both startups and mature tech companies in an effort to find ways to make music profitable in the post-file sharing, post-iPod world, there are surely lessons to be had for print publishers as we deal with our own revolutions in pricing and delivery.

Whitney initially joined Sony Music in 2009 focused on digital strategy and investments. Prior to Sony Music, Whitney worked in TV and film business development and content licensing for Sony Pictures Entertainment and 20 th  Century Fox in Los Angeles. She began her career as an investment banker with Greenhill & Co in New York City.

Go to Member Center>Event Information & RSVP for all details.

October 28: Mother Says Don’t Skip Breakfast!

Our first-ever breakfast networking event is good for everyone, not just entrepreneurs.

It’s for early birds, members with a busy day ahead, and those whose schedules mean they’ve had to miss our lunchtime events. It’s another chance to make connections and introduce your friends to your friends.Of course we’re interested in new ideas, but we want to see you, too. (You don’t write, you don’t call…)
So whether you’re starting a new business or not, you’ll make connections, share tips, contacts, know-how, and support. We’ll fill up on coffee and leave with inspiration. You can bring guests, but don’t forget to RSVP, please. (Very important.)

Go to Member Center>Event Information & RSVP for all details.

Special offer for members: PIA and QED recognizes e-book excellence

The Publishing Innovation Awards (PIA), from Digital Book World, recognizes excellence in e-books, enhanced e-books, and book apps.  First-year winners were a mix of big-house and independent publishers, and were also honored at the DBW conference.The QED certificate, called the “Good Housekeeping Seal” for e-books, is in its first year, and comes along with the PIA entry.

The deadline for entry is November 1. Click Member Center> Benefit Details for entry discount code and more information.

WMG speaker Carolyn Reidy to be honored at 2011 Goddard-Riverside Gala Fundraiser

Goddard Riverside’s 25th Annual New York Book Fair gala to be held on Monday, November 7, 2011, at 583 Park Avenue, New York City. This year’s honoree and the first woman to hold that distinction is Carolyn Reidy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster. Goddard Riverside, is a signature charitable partner of the publishing industry and one of New York’s oldest and most respected settlement houses, annually serving 17,600 people. Goddard Riverside is responsible for all street outreach to homeless individuals in Manhattan, is a major provider of home delivered meals to frail, elderly adults, and operates its renowned Options Center which helps young people to attend college, many the first in their family to do so. In all, its 27 programs change the lives of New Yorkers every day, from infants to senior citizens. Contact www.goddard.org for more information.

Meet our first WMG Fellow

We’re delighted to announce that we have selected the first recipient of the WMG Fellowship, Norma Perez-Hernandez.  

Norma was born in raised in the Bronx. She recently graduated from the City College of New York (CCNY) summa cum laude, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Theatre. Norma also completed the Publishing Certificate Program at CCNY, where she took courses including Books for Young Readers and The Editorial Process. Norma is currently a full time editorial intern with Kensington Publishing Corp. When she isn’t digging through the slush pile, Norma is usually on a stage near you—she can next be seen in the play Unburdened, premiering at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre later this June.