Let’s face it. There is a lot of content out there, and not all of it is good. In fact, some of it can be downright harmful — you know the kind I’m talking about. The kinds of content that offer platitudes of support to women while simultaneously spouting white supremacist, anti-climate change, toxic masculinity rhetoric. There is also straight-up fake news. At a time when access to the right information is crucial, and thought-provoking content is de-rigueur, where is a girl to get her news or political and cultural commentary? Here are our top 5 picks of inspiring media platforms for women to check out in 2020.
the Skimm
The Skimm is a subscription based, daily morning newsletter “The Daily Skimm”, for millions of people. They connect the dots between the world and your daily life. Founded by two millennial news producers, who launched the newsletter from their couch, The Skimm gives you the news in an easy, digestible format. They also explain political jargon and breakdown political, cultural, and financial concepts, making the news more accessible. In addition to their newsletter, they have a weekly podcast, Skimm’This, that breaks down the most important stories of the week and Skimm’d from the Couch, a weekly career podcast.
Our Take
In a world where everyday, everything seems a little more f*cked (pardon our French), we need media that wades through the noise, distills the information, and serves it to us right up front. News should never feel inaccessible or hard to follow. It’s a critical tool for how the citizens of any country engage with the world. A cup of coffee and The Skimm is now part of our daily morning ritual.
SWAAY Media
Swaay media is a membership-based platform that encourages women to publish their own thought leadership. While the membership to publish is over $300 a year, accessing the site for content is free. Founded by former model, Iman Oubou, the platform is full of interesting takes on the world of business, finance, politics, culture, health, and lifestyle. Contributors include entrepreneurs, content creators, artists, women in business and politics, offering diverse perspectives through lived and learned experience. At a time when women are collectively raising their voices, Swaay media offers a platform for both thought and perspective.
Our Take
Women need resources and platforms to elevate their voices, and Swaay does just that. Their entire ethos is based around the idea of #swaaythenarrative, that women can through their voices and writing help change things for better. Swaay publishes long-form content that is both thought-provoking and inspiring. It also gives us access into the minds and experiences of interesting women.
The Every Girl
If you enjoy a beautifully styled website, with stunning photography and interesting content, The Every Girl is for you. A platform literally meant for every girl, The Every Girl inspires women to live their best lives. Whether you’re looking for your next job, your next mutual fund, or your next vacation, The Every Girl has content to inspire and guide you. Part lifestyle blog, combined with thought-provoking essays on the issues of the day, it’s the perfect antidote to a long, stressful week.
Our Take
The Every Girl, is the kind of content you curl up with on a Friday night, with a blanket and a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. Just browsing through the platform is meditative and it’s the perfect place to find inspiration on news, politics, finance, home décor, travel, or fashion or anything else you want to know.
Bitch Media
Bitch Media’s mission is to provide thoughtful feminist content in response to mainstream media and pop culture. They welcome a feminist voice in all their content and don’t hesitate to tackle the problematic and contradictory realities of living in a gendered world. Through long-form essays on anything from challenging problematic female tropes, to ayahuasca ceremonies, to why Zach Efron is staring at bees in his latest Netflix special, Bitch writers question the status-quo.
Our Take
Bitch Media puts a thoughtful and balanced face to feminism in a world where acts of feminism are met with push-back and even hatred. They are part of a social justice movement but not social justice warriors in the way SJWs are portrayed by traditional media. Bitch Media does a deep dive into a wide variety of topics and gently urges the reader towards an activist mindset —imperative for broader social change.
The Lily
The Lily is an arm of the Washington Post, launched in 2017. It is named after the first newspaper written, and edited by women, founded in 1849. If you like the content of the Washington Post, you’ll like The Lily. It is a publication devoted to the interests of women, with the same cerebral writing style as the Washington Post. Their mission is “empower with news and information and promote inclusivity by exposing diverse voices.”
Our Take
The Lily news does, what many publications for women under traditional parent companies fail to do — it allows us to be uncomfortable. There is no way to not be uncomfortable when you’re talking about women’s issues and it’s encouraging to see traditional publications leaning into this changing landscape of media.
Media is a tough space for women, both in how they are portrayed and getting their voices heard. While female driven publications are nothing new, the space they occupy in the mainstream zeitgeist to voice their agenda is. These platforms, for women and by women are changing the game for women and media.
