The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) is an American
professional organization
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) is a group that usually seeks to advocacy, further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in ...
for women in the
communications
Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...
industry.
[Kopecki, Dawn (1996). "Makeover gives group new identity, no staff". ]The Washington Times
''The Washington Times'' is an American Conservatism, conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It covers general interest topics with an emphasis on Politics of the United States, national politics. Its broadsheet daily edit ...
. It was formed as Theta Sigma Phi in 1909 at the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...
.
History
Theta Sigma Phi
The Association for Women in Communications began in 1909 as Theta Sigma Phi, an honorary society at the
University of Washington
The University of Washington (UW and informally U-Dub or U Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast of the Uni ...
.
It was founded by seven female students at the University of Washington in Seattle who had entered the college's new journalism program, the second of its kind in the country. By 1915, there were Theta Sigma Phi chapters at the universities of Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, and
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...
. Officers from the Washington Chapter still doubled as national officers, and the organization began publishing ''The Matrix'', a Magazine for Women Journalists.
In 1918, Theta Sigma Phi held its first convention at the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Two branch campuses are in the Kansas City metropolitan area on the Kansas side: the university's medical school and hospital ...
. A year later, women in Kansas City founded the first alumnae chapter (now known as professional chapters), followed by women in Des Moines and Indianapolis.
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
brought more women into newspaper jobs as their male colleagues went to battle. Theta Sigma Phi member
Alice Rohe was a
United Press
United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ...
reporter in Rome;
Bessie Beatty of the ''
San Francisco Bulletin'' and
Sigrid Schultz
Sigrid Schultz (January 15, 1893 – May 14, 1980) was a notable American reporter and war correspondent in an era when women were a rarity in both print and radio journalism. Working for the ''Chicago Tribune'' in the 1920s, she was the firs ...
of the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
'' reported from Germany as the war ended. But in the postwar economic slump, hostility against "women in men's jobs" ran high. Many editors relegated women to society pages instead of "hard news".
Although women gained the right to vote in 1920, support lagged for other reforms. Ruby Black, who was national president, editor of ''The Matrix'' and the first manager of an employment bureau for members, noted in 1931 that female journalists could not get reporting jobs at the same pay as similarly qualified men.
Theta Sigma Phi strengthened as a national network during the 1930s. The association hired a professional director and founded a national office in 1934. It inaugurated the Headliner Awards in 1939 to honor members who had made outstanding contributions to the field. The group gave
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ( ; October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D ...
honorary membership for her efforts to aid female communicators. The First Lady's most notable action was to close her news conferences to male reporters. Roosevelt contributed several articles to ''The Matrix''.
By 1940, Theta Sigma Phi had 39 chapters, and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
was expanding opportunities for women. However inequality persisted, and women were regarded as temporary or less serious workers. At the Theta Sigma Phi convention in 1946, delegates required all chapters to eliminate any race restrictions from their bylaws.
By 1950, the group had grown to 47 campus chapters and 29 alumnae groups as more women began to work. In 1964, Theta Sigma Phi established its headquarters in
Austin, Texas
Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...
. Jo Caldwell Meyer retired after serving as executive secretary for 24 years, leaving a legacy of leadership and personal attention to members' needs.
Women in Communications
In 1972, Theta Sigma Phi was renamed to Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI).
That year, the organization also voted to admit men into membership.
In 1973, Women in Communications created an awards program (later named the Clarion Awards) to recognize excellence in communications. A new monthly, National Newsletter joined ''The Matrix'' in recording the group's news. WICI joined the national ERA coalition to fight the mounting opposition to the
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, United States Constitution that would explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. It is not currently a part of the Constitution, though its Ratifi ...
.
In 1979, WICI united with eleven communications organizations to found the First Amendment Congress, which works to preserve
First Amendment
First most commonly refers to:
* First, the ordinal form of the number 1
First or 1st may also refer to:
Acronyms
* Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array
* Far Infrared a ...
rights. WICI increasingly defended the freedoms of speech and the press. Leaders protested the news blackout during the invasion of Grenada and spoke out to Congress against proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act. More than 100 chapters organized congressional letter-writing campaigns. WICI joined the National Committee on Pay Equity and awarded Rep. Mary Rose Oakar of Ohio an honorary membership because of her leadership on the issue.
In early 1988, the WICI Board of Directors moved the group's headquarters to
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...
, just outside Washington, DC, to be closer to the seat of government. Membership peaked in the mid-1980s at around 13,000; by 1995 the organization had reduced to around 8,000 members and significant debt.
WICI leaders instituted the Rising Star Award in 1990 for outstanding student members. Laura Glad, of
California State University at Fullerton, was the first recipient. WICI delegates voiced support for the
Civil Rights Act
Civil Rights Act may refer to several civil right acts in the United States. These acts of the United States Congress are meant to protect rights to ensure individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private ...
, which
President Bush signed in 1991, and the
Family and Medical Leave Act, which
President Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the att ...
signed in 1993. The end of the year saw a new partnership emerge between WICI and
Capital Cities/ABC Inc. on its "Stop Sexual Harassment" campaign.
Association for Women in Communications
In 1996 WICI was dissolved, and the organization was renamed the ''Association for Women in Communications''.
At that time, management of the organization was handed to a management firm, and finances stabilized under the new board and organization. The current firm is Club Management Services in
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the List of cities in Missouri, third most populous city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County, Missouri, Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...
. The nonprofit AWC Matrix Foundation was established in 1998 as an educational affiliate.
Activities
The society's publication ''The Matrix, a Magazine for Women Journalists'' was established in 1916. It was replaced by ''Communiqué'', an electronic newsletter. The association presents the Clarion Award, the Headliner Award (since 1939),
and
The Matrix Awards (since 1970).
Foundation
The nonprofit AWC Matrix Foundation was established in 1998 as an educational affiliate. The AWC Matrix Foundation promoted the advancement of women in the communications profession by providing funds for education, research, and publications. The foundation's three initiatives are:
*Professional Certification Program – recognizes excellence in all areas of communications; provides an opportunity to demonstrate communication and management skills and enhance employment/client potential.
*Edith Wortman First Amendment Award – honors professional communicators for their efforts relating to First Amendment issues.
*Barbara Erickson Scholarship Fund – allows college students to attend the AWC National Professional Conference.
Chapters
Theta Sigma Phi chapters
Following is a list of Theta Sigma Phi chapters as of 1968.
[. Baird's Manual is also available online here]
The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage
AWC chapters
Following are the chapters of the Association for Women in Communication, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in ''italics''.
Notable members
References
External links
*
AWC Matrix Foundation official siteWomen in Communications, Inc. Records, 1915-from the
Indiana Historical Society
{{Professional Fraternities
Women's organizations based in the United States
Organizations for women in business
Student organizations established in 1909
1909 establishments in Washington (state)