Association for Women in Communications


The Association for Women in Communications was an American professional organization for women in the communications industry. It was formed in 1996 when Women in Communication went defunct. AWC operated until it went defunct in 2023.

History

, an honorary society for journalism, was established in 1909 at the University of Washington. By 1950, the group had grown to 47 campus chapters and 29 alumnae groups. In 1972, Theta Sigma Phi was renamed to Women in Communications, Inc.. WICI was dissolved in 1996.
The Association for Women in Communications was formed in 1997 as a new nonprofit organization that would continue the legacy of WICI. The Association for Women in Communication was overseen by a new board and was managed by Club Management Services in Springfield, Missouri. AWC ceased operations at the national level in 2023. Several of its chapters continued to operated as a local organization.

Activities

The society's publication was Communiqué, an electronic newsletter. It presented the Clarion Award, the Headliner Award, and The Matrix Awards. The latter two were originally initiated by Theta Sigma Phi.

Foundation

The nonprofit AWC Matrix Foundation was established in 1998 as an educational affiliate. The AWC Matrix Foundation promoted the advancement of women in the communications profession by providing funds for education, research, and publications. The foundation's three initiatives were:
Following are the chapters of the Association for Women in Communication, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
ChapterCharter date and rangeLocationStatus
Bloomington/NormalBloomington, Illinois and Normal, IllinoisInactive
BGSU2011Bowling Green, KentuckyInactive
DetroitDetroit, MichiganInactive ?
LubbockLubbock, TexasInactive
New York19xx ?–1998New York City, New YorkWithdrew
Pittsburgh19xx ?Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaInactive
San FranciscoInactive
Santa Barbara2006–2023Santa Barbara, CaliforniaWithdrew
SeattleSeattle, WashingtonInactive
South FloridaSouth FloridaInactive
Springfield, IL1985–2023Springfield, IllinoisWithdrew -
Springfield, MOSpringfield, MissouriInactive
Tulsa19xx ?–2023Tulsa, OklahomaWithdrew
UW MadisonMadison, WisconsinInactive ?
Washington, D.C. Metro AreaWashington, D.C.Inactive

Notable members

NameChapterNotabilityAwards
Rita Cosbynews anchor for Fox News, MSNBC, and NewsmaxHeadliner Award 2002
Margaret Larsonbroadcast journalist and television presenterHeadliner Award 2004
Ann LiguoriSouth Floridasports broadcasterHeadliner Award 2001
Harriet MonroeHonoraryPoet and founding publisher and editor of Poetry magazineLifetime Achievement Award 2001
Harriet MonroeHonoraryPoet and founding publisher and editor of Poetry magazineHall of Fame 2003
Gail Sheehyauthor, journalist, and lecturerHeadliner Award 2000
Barbara SherauthorHeadliner Award 1998