Arab Women Media Center

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“Breaking Down Barriers in the Arab Media”
– Naomi SakrIn December 1999, the Arab Women Media Center (AWMC) was launched in Jordan. Its mission is to assist women who work in various media, including print, audio and video. The center’s focus is on improving coverage of women, children and family, and human rights violations. Its vision is that more Jordanian women will become engaged in the work of their nation’s development. To accomplish these objectives, staff at the center gather research about these topics, write and disseminate reports to inform journalists and governmental policymakers, and educate and train women in new media technologies. After a pan-Arab Women’s Media Conference was held last spring, the need for a network of support for Arab women in media became apparent; providing such a network became another goal of the center. Also in 2001, AWMC began publishing AYAMM, a magazine that highlights the written work of youth in Jordan. The founding director of the center, Mahasen Al Emam, was the first woman editor in chief of a weekly Jordanian newspaper and the first female elected to the 10-member Jordanian Press Council. More information about the center can be found at http://odag.org/awmc.