Newly Released Media Resource for Journalists Covering Women's Entrepreneurship

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The rise and influence of women's entrepreneurship is starting to make a dent in media coverage on business. For example, from December 2014 to today – there were 48,400 instances of the term "women entrepreneurs" in online news – roughly three times more than the previous year. The increased interest in women's business pursuits is exciting – but the media coverage of business leaders and owners mirror the lack of parity in businesses ownership itself.

"Too often in interviews, women are asked more about their personal lives or their gender – rather than their business savvy," said Amanda Brown, Executive Director of the National Women's Business Council. "The concept of 'business ownership' and the media coverage of it is still default 'male.'

Today, the NWBC released a "Media Resource for Journalists." This resource was produced to first, contextualize the experience of women business owners and leaders and then provide tools and resources for journalists and other media makers that want more information on or to better cover women's entrepreneurship. This resource includes key definitions, information on how to identify bias in the media, and resources to find women business owners and leaders to interview for news and media coverage. It is available on the NWBC website at https://www.nwbc.gov/research/media-resource-women-and-entrepreneurship

"It's no longer uncommon or out of the norm for a woman or a minority to be a CEO of their business, said Kimberly Blackwell, a member of the NWBC. "The Council's intent with this resource is to start a dialogue – we want to include the unique experiences of women and/or minorities in launching and growing their businesses while also acknowledging their tremendous accomplishments irrelevant of their identity. The goal is to normalize the idea of a woman business owner or leader. This is a resource for those to leverage the power of the media."

ABOUT THE NWBC:  The National Women's Business Council (NWBC) is a non-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

For more information contact:
Amanda Brown
(202)-205-3850
[email protected]

SOURCE National Women's Business Council