Happy New Year and Lunar New Year! The new year is a time of transition and renewal, and JAWS is certainly embracing that spirit. As I enter the last year of my term as JAWS president, I’m so excited to discover all we are able to accomplish together for women in journalism in 2023. I’ve been most inspired by the number of volunteers and level of engagement we’ve seen from the JAWS membership, which is a testament to our sisterhood and so many JAWdesses’ commitment to our mission. As news organizations are laying off journalists and halting investment, we need to come together and support each other to advance women journalists and advocate for inclusive coverage. Make no mistake, it’s going to be a year of change. At JAWS, we’re seeking two new leaders to lead our organization into its next chapter. (Read more below.) But as we do, I want to reassure you that the organization is already in good hands with our active, committed board, in which I have every confidence. The board, which met in December and twice in January, has agreed to meet monthly, instead of bimonthly, from February through October to help shepherd JAWS through its transition. We further strengthened our board by voting in two new appointments, former board members Sonya Ross and Alison Bethel, in compliance with our bylaws. (Thanks, Julia Kagan, for your help figuring this out!) Please welcome our returning board members! We’re now forming committees, with most of the chair appointments finalized. It’s not too late to volunteer! The board also approved the 2023 budget in January. As a result of a successful year-end fundraising campaign, a bequest and careful cash-flow management, our first-quarter finances are in the strongest position they have been in years, though we still need to raise at least $24,000 throughout the year to support CAMP. While we work to strengthen our organization, we’re also investing in developing the next generation of women leaders. Our health journalism fellowship has launched with our inaugural class of six fellows – Annabel Rocha, Michele Baruchmann, Dana James, Chandra Bozelko, Lygia Navarro and Cecilia Nowell – who are working on important reporting projects on period poverty, mental health care, Black maternal health disparities, healthcare for incarcerated people, COVID long haulers of color and maternity deserts. Please join us in congratulating and supporting our health journalism fellows, and thanking the Commonwealth Fund for supporting this ambitious program! Read on to learn about all of this and more in the first JAWS newsletter of 2023. Warmly, Jenn
Executive Director Search
To find our new executive director, eight board members have formed a task force, led by Linda Jue. We have received 65 applications for the executive director role and divided them up so that each application will be reviewed by two task force members by the end of this week. The task force then plans to interview qualified candidates this month. We'll keep you updated via these emails. I’d like to also take this moment to deeply thank Eloiza for working hard to prepare JAWS for her departure in March. She has gone above and beyond to make sure everything is in order for her successor, and I am so grateful to her for everything she is and has done for JAWS. I’d also like to thank the entire board, which has really stepped up to help during this transition.
President-Elect News
During this period of transition, Jhmira has decided not to take on the role of president-elect due to the changing needs of the organization. While I’m sad I will no longer have the opportunity to work with her in this presidential capacity this year, I understand and support her decision – and appreciate that she has made it in plenty of time for us to elect and onboard a new president before my term is up in the fall. From her resignation letter: “It saddens me that we will not have the opportunity to establish JAWS’ future under my leadership. However, my capacity for supporting in the areas JAWS now requires at this time are very limited. My resignation from the Board of Directors is in no way an indication of any lack of confidence in my fellow JAWdesses. Having rebuilt an organization once before, I am very well aware of the physical, mental and emotional toll a legacy organization can take. My decision is a personal one and it allows me to prioritize and preserve my health and well being. Thank you for your support and belief in my abilities to lead this sisterhood. While I am not your next president, I will forever be your champion as I am immensely grateful for the contributions JAWS has made to my life and leadership.” Special Election: Nominate someone (or yourself) today! We are holding a special election to pick our new president-elect. Nominations are open now! Please nominate yourself or other JAWdesses by filling out this Google Form before 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 12. Elections will run Feb. 16-23, with our new president-elect announced Feb. 24. If you believe in our mission and want to lead this important organization into the future – and grow our impact – please consider running for president-elect. It’s an amazing opportunity to work with a group of women eager to help transform journalism and uplift other women in and around the industry. I won’t say it’s easy, but for me it has been absolutely worthwhile. I’ve learned a lot, enjoyed opportunities to help other women and made lifelong friends. I’m committed to setting up the next president for success before my term ends at CAMP – and to continuing to support them long afterward as well, as my brilliant predecessor Mira Lowe has for me. If you have questions about what it’s like, feel free to reach out to me (president@jaws.org), our current board members or any of our amazing past presidents. And if you know any members who would be an excellent next leader for JAWS, please nominate them and/or ask them to run. CAMP 2023 I’m delighted to announce that CAMP 2023 will be Oct. 13-15 in … (drumroll please) ... CHICAGO! I couldn’t be happier that JAWS is hosting my favorite event in my new town – with the support of the Chicago regional chapter! Because I’ve been asked about this committee the most, I want to give a special shoutout to the newly named 2023 CAMP co-chairs: Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez (director), who co-chaired last year’s CAMP; Tanya Gadzik (secretary), who co-chaired CAMP in 2020; and Elissa Yancey, who co-chaired the membership committee last year and also helped with some of the programming for CAMP. We had more volunteers to lead this committee than any other, and will be selecting committee members from our robust list of volunteers next – and picking a venue. Thanks so much for all of your interest in this year’s CAMP! Other Committees Thanks also to the chairs of all our other important committees and task forces, which include: Board Governance: Julia Kagan, Gwyneth Doland
Communications: Lauren Moraski, Carrie Osgood
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Linda Jue – FULL
Elections: Tanya Gazdik, Sarah Gassen
Finance: Joanna Hernandez, Suzanne Cosgrove
Fundraising and Development: Alison Bethel, Amy Resnick
Membership: Amanda Crawford, Jill Cornfield
Programs and Services: Cirien Saadeh, Sonya Ross
Regional Groups: Suzanne Cosgrove (still looking for a co-chair)
ED Search Task Force: Linda Jue – FULL
Member Communications Task Force: Barbara Selvin Please join me in congratulating all our chairs! And if you’d like to get involved, we’re still seeking a co-chair for our Regional Groups committee and volunteers for the communications, fundraising, finance, governance, programming and regional groups committees, as well as the member communications task force. Thanks so much for reading, and for being a JAWdess!
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