Women Bylines returns to bring powerful, underreported stories of women to a global audience
A group of 14 women storytellers came together from across France this week to participate in the second edition of CHIME FOR CHANGE’s Women Bylines, a journalism project highlighting quality first-person stories of global relevance.
The five-day workshop provided writers, filmmakers and photographers with intense journalism training and professional mentoring to support the production of underreported stories affecting women.
The first Women Bylines workshop was held in Erbil, Iraq in 2015. This year’s edition, held in Paris from 17-21 July, was co-hosted by Gucci and the Kering Foundation with support from Hearst Magazines.
“Gucci founded CHIME FOR CHANGE in 2013 to amplify the voices of women and girls around the world. The Women Bylines series is at the heart of CHIME FOR CHANGE’s work and we are thrilled to support the shaping and sharing of these powerful stories,” Susan Chokachi, President and CEO, Gucci America said.
“CHIME FOR CHANGE co-founder Salma Hayek Pinault has urged us to ‘listen very carefully to the voices that have never been heard before,’” Mariane Pearl, CHIME FOR CHANGE Managing Editor and Women Bylines Head Trainer said. “This is exactly the objective of the Women Bylines series: highlighting the power of these women to transform societies.”
“We want to bring together women’s collective voices to offer a much-needed counter narrative and human answer to suffering brought about by tendencies such as violence, greed and corruption, which continue to undermine our world,” Ms. Pearl added.
Participants covered topics from violence against women and rape culture, to cyber-harassment, the burkini, the true meaning of consent, and the refugee and migrant crisis.
“Covering women’s issues is difficult in of itself. Most of us carry these stories alone. The quality of the trainings, support, and synergy of the group makes this one of the most empowering experiences I’ve had,” Zoe Vilain, filmmaker and Women Bylines participant said. “I feel the energy from these women will support me in moving forward with my projects.”
Women Bylines also supports participants in pitching and placing their stories to reach a wide audience internationally.
Hearst Magazines is a unit of Hearst (www.hearst.com), one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information companies. With 20 titles in the U.S., Hearst is the leading publisher of monthly magazines in terms of total paid circulation (AAM 2H 2016). Hearst Magazines’ print and digital assets reach more than 128 million readers and site visitors each month – nearly two-thirds of all women and 69 percent of all millennial women in the country. The company publishes close to 300 editions and 200 websites around the world and operates iCrossing, a global, full-service digital marketing agency, and business process provider CDS Global. Hearst Magazines holds a majority stake in KUBRA, a customer experience management solutions company and is a partner with Condé Nast in the publishing services company PubWorx.
To explore some of the content produced by talented women journalists through Bylines, visit:
