This week, the Women's Media Center (WMC), a leading media advocacy and training organization and a coalition partner of RH Reality Check announced the appointment of Jehmu Greene as their next President. Founded in 2005 by Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, and Robin Morgan, The Women's Media Center works to make women more visible and powerful in the media, and is a nationally prominent voice fighting sexism and bias. WMC has recently played a critical role in responding to media bias around rape and rape culture (including the Polanski case), health reform, and other issues.

Greene replaces founding president Carol Jenkins, a leader in women and media and a contributor to RH Reality Check. An Emmy award-winning former journalist and documentary producer, Carol Jenkins is a writer, media analyst and media consultant.  Jenkins will continue with the WMC in the role of senior advisor and founding president emerita.

"We are thrilled to have someone as accomplished, talented and visionary as Jehmu Greene as our next president," said WMC Board Chair Helen Zia, "with her proven commitment to progressive social change and feminist principles. We are very proud that she will be building on the strong foundation established by Carol Jenkins, our founding president, to lead The Women's Media Center to the next level."

Throughout her career, Jehmu Greene has worked with the media to build powerful social justice movements. Greene is a frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and other media outlets. As head of Rock the Vote, the largest youth voter registration group, Greene increased membership from 1500 to over 1 million. Earlier this year, Greene participated in the WMC's nationally recognized leadership and media training program, Progressive Women's Voices, which has trained over 60 progressive thought leaders who have achieved over 4000 media hits in the two years that the program has existed.

"The Women's Media Center is breaking down barriers and leading the way to make sure that women's voices are powerfully represented in the ever-changing media landscape," said Greene. "Participating in the Progressive Women's Voices program enabled me to amplify my advocacy efforts. I am thrilled to join an incredible group of feminists working to harness the power of the media to create positive social change from the boardroom to the broadcast booth."

A native of Austin, Greene got her start working in the fertile ground of Texas politics including an early stint with Governor Ann Richards' campaign in 1994. Greene later played key roles at both the Center for Policy Alternatives and the Democratic National Committee, where she ran the women's office.  An advisor and national surrogate for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, Greene has worked on over 20 political campaigns at the local, state and national level. The recipient of many awards from organizations including Essence Magazine, the National Conference for Community and Justice, the National Council of Research on Women, the American Association of University Women and others, Greene has served on numerous boards of directors for various media, politics and social justice organizations.

"The WMC is extraordinarily fortunate to have this gifted young woman as our next leader," said Carol Jenkins. "I am a long-time admirer of Jehmu's incredible work-so I can watch with pride, pleasure and confidence as the organization grows exponentially. The fact that she's one of our own makes it perfect."

Ms. Jenkins leaves the WMC to focus on the health of women and girls in the U.S. and developing countries and will continue to advocate for an inclusive media.  She serves on the U.S. board of The African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF), the largest health organization on the African continent. Jenkins is also the co-author, with her daughter, Elizabeth Hines, of Black Titan: AG Gaston and the Making of an African American Millionaire, a biography of her uncle and winner of Best Non-Fiction Book from the American Library Association's Black Caucus.

RH Reality Check congratulates our colleague organization and wishes both Carol Jenkins and Jemhu Greene well in their new roles.