1 Media Kit Media Inquires
Contact: Tasheena Mangal
BrandEq Group - Public Relations
Telephone No.: 1 876 507 4548
Email: [email protected]
84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
Ph 876 5074548
2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ___________________________________________________________________________ MISS REPRESENTATION: THE DOCUMENTARY FILM AIMS TO END SEXISM IN THE MEDIA AND EMPOWER WOMEN Public Screening in honour of International Women’s Month on March 23, 2015 at the University of the West Indies. KINGSTON, JA, March 18, 2015 -‐ Miss Representation first premiered in the documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival where it caught the eye of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. It made its television debut as part of the OWN documentary film club with over 1.3 million people tuning in to its multiple broadcasts. Additional screenings with corporations, non-‐profits, religious groups, government organizations and communities are happening every day all over the world. The film includes stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with famous politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics like Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Jane Fonda, Rosario Dawson, Cory Booker, Jackson Katz, Jean Kilbourne, and Gloria Steinem. The film offers startling facts and statistics that will leave audiences shaken and armed with a new perspective. www.missrepresentation.org Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-‐representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of females of all ages, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel empowered. “We are thrilled to have so many outreach opportunities for Miss Representation. This film was made to be a change agent in our culture, to inspire both women and men to recognize women's collective voice, leadership capacity and equal rights,” says Newsom. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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3 In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality-‐-‐and not in her talents, skills and capacity as a leader. While women have made strides in leadership over the past few decades, the playing field is still not level. The glass ceiling remains difficult to crack. The distribution of the film has been the catalyst for a social action campaign led by MissRepresentation.org. The campaign seeks to empower women of all ages and provide them with new opportunities to realize their full potential. Local Screening: In support of their on-‐going work in women’s empowerment, and in celebration of International Women’s Day, Nadine Spencer, Ambassador to the Representation Project, along with community partners, will host a debut screening of the award-‐winning documentary Miss Representation in Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday, March 23, starting at 6:00 p.m. The screening will be free of charge to attendees, and will take place in the lecture theatre, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Mona. Community partners include Canada's High Commissioner to Jamaica, Kazembe & Associates, Nursing and Homemakers Inc., University of the West Indies, BrandEq Group, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Eckler (Consultants + Actuaries), and The Representation Project. Following the screening, issues presented by the film will be discussed by a panel comprising film director Storm Saulter, Kay Osborne (CEO of Kay Osborne Associates Ltd.), Aubyn Hill (CEO of Corporate Strategies Ltd.), Dr. Pamela Appelt (Retired Citizenship Court Judge, Canada), Kamina Johnson Smith (Attorney and Senator), Marlene Malahoo Forte (Senator), Pat Ramsay (AL Harvard Fellow 2014, Director, International Women’s Forum). Television broadcaster, Fae Ellington, will moderate the panel. “I am pleased to see this film screened in Jamaica, and am proud to be involved in this dialogue. This is a step in the right direction, and will have an influence on how women are viewed in Jamaica in the future,” said Nadine Spencer. “The issue of women’s representation and accessible pathways to leadership is quite important, and both the film and panel will inspire constructive conversation. Conversation is a critical part of the 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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4 solution.” MissRepresentation.org is igniting a cross-‐generational movement to shift the cultural mindset of communities, interrupt and stop patterns of sexism, change the way women are represented in the media and ensure a tipping point that will lead to gender parity in leadership. The media is invited to attend the screening and cover the post-‐screening panel discussion. If you would like to attend, please contact Tasheena Mangal, Email: [email protected]. Phone: 876 507 4548. To view full media kit associated with this press release, please visit the following link: www.brandeq.com/events. -‐30-‐ Media Inquiries: BrandEQ Group Tasheena Mangal Public Relations Ph: 876 507 4548 [email protected] 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
Ph 876 5074548
5 Nadine Spencer: Miss Representation Ambassador Nadine Spencer is the chief executive officer of Brand EQ Group Inc., a global marketing and communications agency made up of top-‐level creative professionals from around the world, specializing in meeting clients’ marketing, communications, and PR goals. Spencer has earned a reputation as an experienced and skilled professional who accelerates strategic growth and brand visibility for leading corporate and non-‐profit organizations and individuals. She specializes in global marketing and communication strategies, and through her coined “People Matter” concept has expanded market growth and increased revenues significantly for various multi-‐national enterprises by amplifying their stories to a wider audience. Spencer holds a BA Hon Degree in Political Science from York University and recently served as director of the Food Network Delicious Food Show, where she managed all aspects of the show’s production, including business plans, special features, PR strategy, marketing, communication strategies, sponsorship, exhibit sales, and partner relationships. She has served on numerous corporate and not-‐for-‐profit boards, and as president of the Junior League of Toronto, a global non-‐profit women’s organization focused on volunteerism, women’s empowerment, and community strengthening. She currently serves as marketing director for Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs, an organization founded by Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey. She also works with various charitable organizations, empowering impoverished and disenfranchised women to work their way to prosperity through education and entrepreneurship. Marlene Malahoo Forte Marlene Malahoo Forte is currently an Opposition Senator and Shadow Minister of Health. Previously, she served as a Government Senator and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade for Jamaica. She is an Attorney-‐at-‐
Law and a former judge who now practices law as a consultant counsel. She has also hosted and executively produced her own radio talk show, called Justice. Senator Forte is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (YGL) (2010) and a Yale World Fellow (2007). 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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6 Dr. Pamela Appelt Pamela Appelt served for 11 years as judge of the Court of Canadian Citizenship, the first African-‐Canadian woman to hold this position. She is a generous volunteer and an active community member who is committed to helping children and families live a better life. Born in St. Mary’s, Jamaica, Ms. Appelt attended West Indies College and studied microbiology and biochemistry in London. She migrated to Canada in 1966, and worked for several years as a researcher in medical biochemistry at McGill University. Over the years, she has donated her time and energy to many community organizations. She has worked with the Ontario Black History Society, the former Clarke Institute of Psychiatry and the Canadian Multiculturalism Council, among many others. Ms. Appelt has been a board member of many organizations, including the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Community Foundation of Oakville, the Healthy Community Funders of Halton, and the Yee Hong Geriatric Centre in Scarborough. She has been an advisor to the president of Northern Caribbean University, a patron of PACE Canada in Jamaica and Canada, and a founding member of the Black-‐Jewish dialogue of B’Nai Brith. Ms. Appelt holds a master’s degree in public policy. In 2002, she received an honorary doctorate of laws from Northern Caribbean University. In 2005, she was one of four outstanding Canadians whose photographs graced the official Black History Month poster. In 2008, Ms. Appelt was honored by the Government of Jamaica with the Order of Distinction in the rank of officer for dedicated service to Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora in Canada. Ms. Appelt is also an accomplished artist, whose works have been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Jamaica, and Canada. Now retired, Ms. Appelt is a member of the Speakers Bureau of Ontario. She frequently addresses audiences at schools and organizations about religiouHos s human rights, violence against women and children, and issues that affect immigrants and visible-‐minority women. Currently, Pamela serves as vice-‐chair of the Harbourfront Centre Board. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
Ph 876 5074548
7 Aubyn Hill As the Chief Executive Office of Corporate Strategies Ltd., Aubyn Hill has over 35 years working experience in the private sector. In early 1980s he led a start-‐up team to open a branch of American Express International Banking Corporation (AEIBC) in Sri Lanka. He was then promoted to a position in Amex Bank in Bahrain. Prior to his work in Sri Lanka, Hill had worked with Amex Bank in New York, Rome, and Mumbai. During his 21 years as a banker in the Middle East, Hill assisted in and led the restructuring of two major banks—Burgan Bank in Kuwait and the National Bank of Oman. He also led the management team that completed the successful turnaround of one of the largest banks in the Caribbean, National Commercial Bank Limited (NCB) Hill established Corporate Strategies Limited as a management consultancy firm in 2005. Between December 2005 and October 2011, he worked in various roles as a consultant, chairman, and finally CEO of SCJ Holdings Limited, the company that carried the six Government of Jamaica-‐owned sugar estates (approximately 40,000 hectares) and five sugar factories for the primary purpose of divesting them. In June 2014, the leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness, appointed Aubyn Hill to chair his newly established Economic Advisory Council (EAC). Mr. Hill sits on various corporate boards, including that of Jamaica Broilers Group Limited (the largest food processing company in the Caribbean), and also serves on the University Council, which governs four campuses of the University of the West Indies. His academic qualifications include an MBA from Harvard Business School, which he earned in 1978. Mr. Hill and his wife have two grown children. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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8 Kamina Johnson Smith Senator Kamina Johnson Smith was appointed a Government Senator in December 2009, and was re-‐appointed to the Senate in January of this year, where she serves as the Opposition Whip. She is an attorney-‐at-‐law with more than 10 years at the Jamaican Bar, is company secretary of a publicly listed company and its subsidiaries, and has responsibilities that include the BVI, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Kamina is highly committed to public service and volunteerism and has successfully managed several projects of the LIME Foundation. She has also served as Director of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica and the Early Childhood Commission. Prior to becoming a member of the Jamaica Labour Party, Kamina served as Legal Advisor and Executive Member of its young professional affiliate, Generation 2000. She is a member of both the Standing and Central Executive Committees of the JLP, serves as a member of the party’s Legal & Constitutional Committee and Dispute Resolution Committee, and is a former Chairman of the International Relations Committee. She is the JLP’s representative to the non-‐partisan NGO, the Jamaica Women’s Political Caucus. Kay Osborne Ms. Osborne is a management and communications consultant and senior executive with more than 30 years of diverse leadership experience with Fortune 500 and emerging growth companies in the USA. She spearheaded Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) transformation to become Jamaica’s leading television station, and led the development of the largest portfolio of high quality local programs in the Caribbean, developing an online strategy that attracts 2 million monthly visitors to TVJ’s website. Ebony Magazine named Ms. Osborne among corporate America’s top 100 black women. She has received the Pillsbury Award for Excellence for Corporate America women in international business. Ms. Osborne graduated summa cum laude with a communications degree from Northwestern University, Illinois, USA, and earned an MBA in international business from MSBM. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
Ph 876 5074548
9 Pat Ramsay Spanning over 30 years, Ramsay’s diversified range of professions, coming from a health background, has included journalist, TV host, magazine editor (Paris and New York) and cultural and development director. Ramsay’s social involvement has been far-‐
reaching, embracing mentorship programmes for young adults, focusing on the areas of global leadership, spiritual well-‐being and volunteerism and forging many international collaborations. In 2008, Ramsay was conferred with a National Honour by the Government of Jamaica. In 2012 alone, Ramsay was the recipient of four international awards for her vision, philanthropy and leadership, namely, the IWF International 2012 Women Who Make a Difference Award in San Francisco International Hall of Fame, the WLI Committee of the United Way of Jamaica Award for Leadership, Volunteerism and Philanthropy, New York-‐based CaribNews Publication Women of Power and Influence Award and the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM) Business and Civic Leadership Award, The AMCHAM Jamaica Award of Excellence – Arts, Culture and Philanthropy. In 2014, Ramsay was awarded for being the WLI founding and longest serving President Award in volunteerism and philanthropy. Ramsay was also awarded the Distinguished Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA in 2014, where she pursued leadership development at the Kennedy School. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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10 Storm Saulter Storm Saulter is a writer, director, cinematographer, and visual artist. Born in Negril, Jamaica, he received formal film training at The Los Angeles Film School, graduating in 2001 with a focus in cinematography and editing. His commercial clients include PUMA, Nestle, Red Bull, Virgin Media, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Vice Media, Visa, Red Stripe Beer, ROOTS Canada, Sandals Resorts, Martha Stewart, and Hilton Hotels. His photographs have been published in Rolling Stone Magazine, The FADER, Billboard Magazine, The Village Voice, and Trace Magazine, to name a few. Storm has exhibited his experimental films at The Brooklyn Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art Miami, The British Museum, Paris Photo, The Caribbean Biennial, The National Biennial of Jamaica, Berlin Art Fair, and numerous international exhibitions. He served as writer, director, and cinematographer for his multi-‐award-‐winning first feature film, Better Mus’ Come. Critics have recognized Better Mus’ Come as heralding a new movement of independent filmmaking throughout the Caribbean. The film opened in U.S. theaters in March 2013 and had its UK television debut on BBC in May 2014. Saulter is co-‐founder of the New Caribbean Cinema film collective, a pioneering effort to showcase the next generation of Caribbean filmmakers through the creation of uncompromising narrative films and documentaries. The collective’s first feature film project, Ring Di Alarm!, for which Saulter served as executive producer, made it’s world premiere at the British Film Institute in London in 2012 and is currently touring the international film festival circuit. Saulter received the 2011 Jamaica Gleaner Honor Award for his work in developing Jamaica’s film industry. The Jamaica Observer has named him one of his country’s most influential people, and in 2012 he was identified as one of the 50 under 50 business leaders shaping Jamaica’s future. Saulter is currently the Filmmaker in Residence at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
Ph 876 5074548
11 Fact Sheet: Statistics from Miss Representation •
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American teenagers spend 31 hours per week watching T.V. (source), 17 hours per week listening to music (source), 3 hours per week watching movies (source), 4 minutes per week reading magazines (source), and 10 hours per week online (source) It’s estimated that more than one billion people use the Internet every single day. 53% of 13-‐year-‐old girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17. It is estimated that out of the eight million people with an eating disorder, seven million are women. 65% of U.S. women and girls report disordered eating behaviors. 17% of teens engage in cutting and self-‐injurious behavior. Depression in women has doubled since 1970. U.S advertisers spent over a billion dollars in 2009. 80% of the countries in the world have GDP’s less than that. The number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on youth under age 19 more than tripled from 1997 to 2007. Women make up 51% of the U.S. population. However, women comprise only 20% of the seats in Congress. 35 women have served as U.S. governors, compared to 2,319 men. 71 countries in the world have had female presidents or prime ministers; the U.S. is not one of them. U.S. women continue to earn 77¢ to every dollar that men earn. In nine states and the District of Colombia, women who are victims of domestic abuse can be denied healthcare coverage because domestic abuse can be considered a preexisting condition. The U.S is the only major industrialized nation without paid family leave. In 2011, only 11% of protagonists in films were female. Between 1937 and 2005 there were only 13 female protagonists in animated films. All of them except one had the aspiration of finding romance. More than 20% of teens in the U.S. have sex before the age of 14. In Nancy Pelosi’s four years as Speaker of the House, she has been on the cover of zero national weekly magazines. Women own only 5.8% of all television stations and 6% of radio stations. Women hold only 5% of clout positions in telecommunications, entertainment, publishing, and advertising. Studies prove exposures to sexually explicit video games and music videos is linked to men’s acceptance of rape myths and sexual harassment. 1 in 4 girls experience teen dating violence. 1 in 4 women are abused by a partner in their lifetime. 1 in 6 women are survivors of rape or attempted rape. 15% of rape survivors are under the age of 12. Rape survivors are more likely to suffer from depression and alcohol and drug abuse, or contemplate suicide. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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12 Background -‐ Miss Representation Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s first film Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film and exposed the ways in which mainstream media contributes to the under-‐
representation of women in positions of power and influence. In response to overwhelming public demand for ongoing education and social action in support of the film’s message, Newsom founded the organization that has become The Representation Project in April 2011. A 501(c)3 non-‐profit organization, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes. While traveling the world with Miss Representation, Newsom encountered many parents and educators who thanked her for making Miss Representation, but asked, “What about our boys? Isn’t there a boy crises going on? How can we help our boys and men be a part of the gender equality solution?” In response, she began research and production on her second film, The Mask You Live In, which premiered at Sundance in 2015. The Mask You Live In explores how America’s narrow definition of masculinity is harming our boys, men, and society at large, while urging viewers to take action. With the release of this second film (and more to come) The Representation Project steps into a bolder agenda—one that requires all of us to work together to ensure equality and justice. As an organization, The Representation Project remains true to the message of Miss Representation—that limiting stereotypes harm all of us, and that women deserve a seat at the table. We take that commitment forward with us as we tackle the biases that impact our larger society. 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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13 Event Programme 5:00 – 6:00 PM Cocktail Reception and Media -‐ Roof Top UWI 6:00 – OPENING WELCOME – LAW LECTURE THEATER Miss. Representation Welcome Ms. Nadine Spencer Greetings Prime Ministers Office Ms. Lisa Hanna Greetings Opposition Office Senator Olivia “Babsy” Grange Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Robert Ready University of the West Indies Dr Leith Dunn Jamaica National Building Society Dr. Dana Dixon Kazembe & Associates Mr. Courtney Kazembe Moderator Ms. Fae Ellington 6:30 – FILM SCEENING – MISS REPRESENTATION Moderated by Fae Ellington 8:00 – 9:00 PANEL DISCUSSION 84 Lady Musgrave Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I
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