Gloria Steinem to Receive Missouri Honor Medal on Feb. 10

Gloria Steinem

Dean Mills Convergence Journalism Dean Jan Colbert Magazine Journalism Chair Mary Kay Blakely Magazine Journalism Faculty

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MP3 Audio File Links/Podcast Transcript Steinem Speech

Columbia, Mo. (Jan. 31, 2005) -- Gloria Steinem, a writer and an activist, will be awarded a 2004 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism in a special ceremony beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Missouri Theatre. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not needed.

The Missouri School of Journalism has awarded the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism annually since 1930. More than 425 distinguished journalists, advertising and public relations practitioners, business people, institutions and media organizations have received this prestigious award.

Steinem, a leader in the late-twentieth century women's rights movement, co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1972 and was one of its editors for 15 years. Steinem continues to serve as a consulting editor and was instrumental in the magazine's move to join forces with the nonprofit Feminist Majority Foundation. Her interests in gender roles and non-violent conflict resolution have served as the motivation in her creating and leading numerous grassroots campaigns. Steinem has played an important role in the activities of the Women's Action Alliance, the National Women's Political Caucus, Voters for Choice and the Ms. Foundation for Women. She is the author of many bestsellers, including "Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem," "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" and "Marilyn: Norma Jean."

Farai Chideya

Suzanne Levine

Amy Richards

Dean Mills, dean of the Missouri School of Journalism, and Jan Colbert, chair of the Magazine Department, will award Ms. Steinem her medal at the beginning of the event. Then four friends, Mary Kay Blakely, Farai Chideya, Suzanne Levine and Amy Richards, will reflect on Ms. Steinem's significant accomplishments and other special memories. Ms. Steinem will follow with her remarks. A book signing will be held by all speakers following the ceremony.

Blakely, a contributing editor to Ms. Magazine since 1981, has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue and Family Circle. She has received many honors such as the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition, Blakely has appeared on several television programs, and her written works have been collected in fourteen writing anthologies published in five countries. She is currently a journalism professor at the School.

Chideya, a multi-media journalist, currently hosts the "Your Call Radio" show on San Francisco's KALW 91.7FM. She is helping San Francisco State University re-launch "Pop and Politics," an online journal of news and opinion founded in 1995. Chideya has worked for ABC News and Oxygen women's channel, along with offering commentaries for other television programs. She has published three books and several newspaper and magazine articles.

Levine has served as editor and writer for several organizations, including Seattle Magazine, Time/Life Books, McCall's and Mademoiselle. She began working for Ms. Magazine in 1972 and was later named vice-president of the company. Levine has received honors from several organizations, including the Association for Education Journalism and Mass Communication. She is an active member of the American Society of Magazine Editors and serves on the board of Women's Action Alliance.

Richards is co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, a national organization for young feminist activists between the ages of 15 and 30. She has initiated several campaigns and projects on a wide range of issues and currently makes her living as a lecturer, writer and consultant. Richards was profiled by Ms. Magazine in "21 for the 21st: Leaders for the Next Century" and was recently honored as a 2004 Woman of Distinction by The American Association of University Women.

Along with Steinem, recipients of the 2004 Missouri Medal of Honor include: Dr. Leo Bogart, a social scientist who specializes in mass media and communication; Anne Garrels, a foreign correspondent for NPR; James Natchwey, renowned photojournalist; Dr. William H. Taft, former Missouri journalism professor; Ernest Withers, Civil Rights movement photographer; and Tempo magazine, an Indonesian publication that has survived despite government opposition.

Additional information about the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism is available at http://journalism.missouri.edu/honor-medal/.