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DATABASE AIMS TO UP USE OF FEMALE EXPERTS IN PRESS
By Erica Iacono
NEW YORK: A new online database of female experts seeks to erase the
disparity of women's representation in the media by offering resources to
journalists.
Developed by The White House Project, Fenton Communications, and the
Women's
Funding Network, SheSource. org currently features 75 women experts - from
the
local and national level - in a variety of subject areas, including crime,
education, politics, environment, and the economy. Additional experts will
be
added each week.
Lisa Witter, EVP and GM of Fenton, said that, about two or three years
ago,
the firm noticed a discrepancy in the amount of female experts being quoted
in
the media.
Marie Wilson, president of The White House Project, noted that a recent
study conducted by the organization shows that women make up only 14% of
guests
on morning news shows.
'The Sunday morning talk shows ... have an authority-setting effect,'
she
said. 'When women are not represented, it skews what people think about the
number of women who are experts on the subjects.'
Chris Grumm, president and CEO of Women's Funding Network, said the
increased representation of women in the media could ultimately affect the
public's perception of women.
'When the public sees women experts, they begin to see women in
leadership
in a different way,' she said.
Witter said SheSource.org would soon include a breaking news section,
with
featured experts available to address the topic of the day or hour.
'We understand that journalists are often on tight deadlines, so we want
to
make their jobs as easy as possible,' she said.
In PRWEEK, October 17, 2005
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