MADRE- The mother of News

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Demanding Rights, Resources & Results for Women Worldwide

In response to the chaos occurring around the world, you would think that media would at least make a minimal effort to keep the common citizen in the loop of what’s ACTUALLY going on. However, it seems as if news media doesn’t cater to the everyday citizen, instead it caters to those in power and the political world. Let’s face it, Media is crucial to our existence, we need to stay informed and we deserve to know what happens around the world. Initially, media was established to inform, enhance and enlighten us on current events and issues arising in our community, but now media seems to distort or avoid the truth and favor those in power (the money makers). Media has two very important traits- its ability to influence and persuade the masses and the ratio of men in power versus women in power. Professors John Abel and Judith Saxton of Michigan State University made a good point in their brief to the FCC in 1977, “women do not hold executive level positions in the broadcasting industry. They are excluded from the decision-making process.”

Not only has media become vague, dishonest and ambiguous, it also has yet to include more minorities and women. Women continue to be non-existent in the news media world and even though women do occupy positions on air, the news content they provide is not as significant as that of men. Although there exists a handful of women who are extremely influential in media (i.e. Barbara Walters, Rachel Maddow, and Maria Elena Salinas), the presence of anchorwomen is still minimal. In addition, anchorwomen are not criticized for the content and methods they use, instead they’re either condemned or admired because of their physical beauty, ‘presence’ (John Berger- Ways of Seeing) or style. As Alessandra Stanley pointed out in the article The Rise of the Female Anchor, Diane Sawyer climbed the latter of success because “she is a gorgeous, glamorous television personality who got the top job by waiting around.” I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Jorge Salinas’ success described in the same manner. Avoiding the inundation of images to protect ourselves from the flood of information just moves you into a state of automaticity (Rebecca Richards Bullen). This is what we need to prevent.

Even if the percentage of women working in broadcasting stations increases, it doesn’t change the dynamic of women vs. men in news media. The importance here lies in the amount of women actually running the stations, on advisory boards, and making the important decisions.

After an extensive search online, I FINALLY found a site that caters to my criteria and is a perfect example of alternative media. Alternative forms of media are crucial because they keep us well informed, are not bias, and don’t rely on the funds of the money makers, therefore providing ‘raw’ truthful content that we as readers deserve to see. MADRE is a powerful tool in the fight against discrimination of women in media. Established in 1983, this international human rights organization was created by a group of activists, teachers, health care providers who had travelled to Nicaragua during the 1980s to witness, first hand, the effects of the contra war (sponsored by the US). Astonished and intrigued by the effects of War on women and children in Nicaragua, they came back to the U.S. with the mission to inform others about the current state of Nicaragua and other surrounding cities. Founded by Kathy Engel, Madre.org continued to work extensively with Nicaraguan organizations to further address concerns of the women in that country. In the process, Madre.org partnered with several sister organizations in the US to enhance their knowledge and purpose in Nicaragua and the US. Currently, Madre covers a wide range of stories from the Middle East to Latin America and Europe. They have affiliations with organizations in Afghanistan, Columbia, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Mexico and Sudan. The organization itself is based in New York City.

Through its partnerships and other collaborating institutions Madre has managed to obtain funding via donations, the sale of products/momentums on their web store, offering speakers for events, hosting conferences and several other methods. Madre.org contributes to the alternative media movement by providing underground stories that aren't presented in mainstream media. This organization was created for women by women and offers a variety of ideas on how to contribute to the cause of educating women around the world. Madre.org offers monthly newsletters with key events occuring in different parts of the country. For example, the month of October focused on the unexposed events currently taking place in Haiti in regard to women and their well being. The articles featured on the site address issues of rape, mothers, children and AIDs.



Madre.org not only raises awareness by providing coverage but also by creating fund pools, campaigns and projects for each of their causes. For example, the Afghan Women's survival fund, Clean Water for Gaza in Palestine, and The Safe Birth Project in Palestine. Madre.org offers several resources for women to go out and support each other and the opportunity to learn about the oppressive habitats of women, not only in America, but in many third world countries. This organization is essential in the fight against modern day discrimination. As an American, who loves to watch the news, I find it appalling that our media does not cover anything outside of our "bubble" circuit. Media.org is powerful, engaging and only a stepping stone in our mission to modify media to include the masses, not persaude the masses.