The Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) celebrated the legacy of women journalists at a reception on October 2 hosted at the Ms. office. The gathering brought together journalists, longtime JAWS members, and feminist advocates to recognize the women who helped shape media and discuss the importance of preserving their work for future generations.
The reception highlighted the connections between JAWS, Ms. and the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), publisher of Ms. magazine. Kathy Bonk, a longtime feminist advocate and leader, recalled how Ms. founder Gloria Steinem reached out to ask FMF to keep the magazine alive. With the support of Ellie Smeal, Katherine Spillar, Peg Yorkin, and others, FMF committed to sustaining Ms. feminist journalism.
Bonk also reflected on the role of feminist journalism in advancing the women’s movement, arguing that the journalists who documented the movement helped make its progress possible. Bonk shared, “It’s no longer just news coverage. It’s looking for an impact. It’s looking at how we change people’s lives.”
A central focus of the reception was JAWS’ Legacy Fund and its efforts to preserve the history of women in journalism. Pam Morland, a former JAWS president and longtime journalist, described donating decades of professional and personal materials to archive her materials going back to 1985.
Morland encouraged fellow journalists to preserve their own work rather than discard it, explaining that materials that may seem unremarkable today can become valuable historical records. The archives offer researchers an opportunity to explore the experiences and contributions of women journalists and document the development of organizations such as JAWS.
The reception highlighted the importance of preserving women’s experiences in journalism, particularly as the profession continues to confront challenges. JAWS is helping ensure the future generations can study their work and understand the history of feminist media.
As Ms. approaches its 55th anniversary in December, marking 25 years with the Feminist Majority Foundation as publisher, the gathering celebrated the relationships, reporting and feminist organizing that have sustained the magazine and the broader movement. Speakers closed by celebrating Ms., Gloria Steinem, and the community of women journalists whose work continues to shape feminist media.