{{Short description|American professional organization}} {{Infobox organization | name = Association for Women in Communications | image = | image_border = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = The Association for Women in Communications logo<br>This logo was used from 1972-2018 | logo = AWC.FullColor (1).jpg | logo_caption = Logo used since 2018 | abbreviation = AWC | former_name = Theta Sigma Phi ({{lang|grc|ΘΣΦ}})<br />Women in Communications, Inc. | predecessor = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|1997}} | founding_location = University of Washington | dissolved = 2023 | type = Nonprofit | status = | purpose = <!-- focus as e.g. humanitarian, peacekeeping, etc --> | headquarters = 4730 S. National Avenue, Suite A1 | location = Springfield, Missouri, United States | region_served = | membership = 3,000 | num_members_year = 2022 | publication = ''the Communiqué'' | budget = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | awards = The Matrix Awards | website = {{URL|www.womcom.org/}} | remarks = }} The '''Association for Women in Communications''' ('''AWC''') was an American professional organization for women in the communications industry.<ref name="Burt-2000" /><ref name=":0">Kopecki, Dawn (1996). "Makeover gives group new identity, no staff". The Washington Times.</ref><ref name="Sterling-2003" /> It was formed in 1996 when Women in Communication (aka Theta Sigma Phi) went defunct. AWC operated until it went defunct in 2023.
==History== Theta Sigma Phi, an honorary society for journalism, was established in 1909 at the University of Washington.<ref name="Burt-2000" /><ref name="Sterling-2003" /><ref name="kansas feature">{{cite news |title=Journalism Sorority has a large program |url=https://basic.newspapers.com/clip/63868837/ |access-date=November 23, 2020 |work=University Daily Kansan |date=14 May 1920 |location=Lawrence, Kansas |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 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).<ref name="Burt-2000" /><ref name="Sterling-2003" /> 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.<ref name="Burt-2000" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Sterling-2003" /><ref name="whw-2009" /><ref name="Bulkeley-2004" /> 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=History of The Association for Women in Communications |url=https://www.awctulsa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=356310&module_id=639477 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Association for Women in Communications Tulsa}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2017-06-16 |title=AWC-SB – OUR STORY |url=https://awcsb.org/awc-sb-the-first-ten-years/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=AWC Santa Barbara |language=en-US}}</ref> Several of its chapters continued to operated as a local organization.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
== Activities == The society's publication was ''Communiqué'', an electronic newsletter. It presented the Clarion Award,<ref>[http://www.artnews.com/2010/07/01/artnews-wins-a-clarion-award/ ARTnews Wins a Clarion Award], in ARTnews 07/01/10.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Clarion Awards |url=http://www.womcom.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=903060&module_id=193199 |access-date=August 3, 2017 |publisher=The Association for Women in Communications}}</ref> the Headliner Award,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2022-02-27 |title=Headliner Award |url=https://womcom.org/headliner-award/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223122513/https://womcom.org/headliner-award/ |archive-date=2025-02-23 |access-date=2025-11-24 |work=The Association for Women in Communications |language=en-US}}</ref> and The Matrix Awards.<ref name="Matrix Awards">{{cite web |title=Overview: The Annual NYWICI Matrix Awards |url=https://www.nywici.org/matrix |access-date=August 3, 2017 |publisher=New York Women in Communications, Inc.}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=May 14, 2009--Michelle Singletary and Kate Perrin to Receive 2009 Matrix Awards for Professional Achievements |url=http://www.awcdc.net/matrixawards_09.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227181848/http://www.awcdc.net/matrixawards_09.shtml |archive-date=2012-02-27 |website=www.awcdc.net}}</ref> The latter two were originally initiated by Theta Sigma Phi.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Matrix Awards" />
== 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: *Professional Certification Program – recognized excellence in all areas of communications; provided an opportunity to demonstrate communication and management skills and enhance employment/client potential. *Edith Wortman First Amendment Award – honored professional communicators for their efforts relating to First Amendment issues. *Barbara Erickson Scholarship Fund – allowed college students to attend the AWC National Professional Conference.
== Chapters ==
Following are the chapters of the Association for Women in Communication, with active chapters indicated in '''bold''' and inactive chapters in ''italics''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-15 |title=Find a Chapter |url=https://womcom.org/find-a-chapter/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=The Association for Women in Communications |language=en-US}}</ref> {{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" !Chapter !Charter date and range !Location !Status !{{Refh}} |- |''Bloomington/Normal'' | |Bloomington, Illinois and Normal, Illinois |Inactive | |- |''BGSU'' |2011 |Bowling Green, Kentucky |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Association for Women in Communications |url=https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/media-and-communication/communication/student-activities-and-organizations/association-for-women-in-communications.html |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Bowling Green State University |language=en}}</ref> |- |''Detroit'' | |Detroit, Michigan |Inactive ? |<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://womcomdetroit.org/about-us/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=AWC Detroit |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''Lubbock'' | |Lubbock, Texas |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.awclubbock.org/about/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Association for Women in Communication Lubbock |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |''New York'' |19xx ?–1998 |New York City, New York |Withdrew (local) |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wyeth |first=Deirdre |title=Our History |url=https://nywici.org/about/history/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=NYWICI |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Efn|Chapter withdrew and became the New York Women in Communications, Inc., a local organization.}} |- |''Pittsburgh'' |19xx ? |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-04-23 |title=PG Sweeps Matrix Awards |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-pg-sweeps-matrix/185471796/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=38}}</ref> |- |''San Francisco'' | | |Inactive |<ref name=":1" /> |- |''Santa Barbara'' |2006–2023 |Santa Barbara, California |Withdrew (local) |<ref name=":3" /> |- |''Seattle'' | |Seattle, Washington |Inactive | |- |''South Florida'' | |South Florida |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://awcsouthflorida.org/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Women in Communications South Florida}}</ref> |- |''Springfield, IL'' |1985–2023 |Springfield, Illinois |Withdrew (local) |- |''Springfield, MO'' | |Springfield, Missouri |Inactive |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.awcspringfieldmo.org/ |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Association for Women in Communications Springfield Missouri}}</ref>
|- |''Tulsa'' |19xx ?–2023 |Tulsa, Oklahoma |Withdrew (local) |<ref name=":2" /> |- |''UW Madison'' | |Madison, Wisconsin |Inactive ? |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Association for Women in Communications Madison |url=https://login.wisc.edu/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s1 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison}}</ref> |- |''Washington, D.C. Metro Area'' | |Washington, D.C. |Inactive |<ref name="auto"/> |} {{notelist}}
==Notable members== {{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" !Name !Chapter !Notability !Awards !{{Refh}} |- |Rita Cosby | |news anchor for Fox News, MSNBC, and Newsmax |Headliner Award 2002 |<ref name=":1" /> |- |Margaret Larson | |broadcast journalist and television presenter |Headliner Award 2004 |<ref name=":1" /> |- |Ann Liguori |South Florida |sports broadcaster |Headliner Award 2001 |<ref name=":1" /> |- |Lucile Saunders McDonald |Pacific Northwest |journalist, historian, author |Headliner Award 1959 |<ref name="womcom.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.womcom.org/awards/headliner_winners.asp|title=Headliner Award Recipients|publisher=The Association for Women in Communications|accessdate=January 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815172211/http://www.womcom.org/awards/headliner_winners.asp|archive-date=August 15, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |Harriet Monroe | rowspan="2" |Honorary | rowspan="2" |Poet and founding publisher and editor of ''Poetry'' magazine |Lifetime Achievement Award 2001 | rowspan="2" | |- |Hall of Fame 2003 |- |Gail Sheehy | |author, journalist, and lecturer |Headliner Award 2000 |<ref name=":1" /> |- |Barbara Sher | |author |Headliner Award 1998 |<ref name=":1" /> |}
==References== {{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="Burt-2000">{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wfj4PW607UYC&pg=PA11 | title = Women's Press Organizations, 1881-1999 | first = Elizabeth V. |last = Burt | isbn = 9780313306617 | year = 2000 | pages = 11–20 | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | access-date = November 30, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="Sterling-2003">{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4XJQD4O_TkC&pg=PA177 | pages = 177–179 | title = Encyclopedia of Radio | ISBN = 9781579582494 | publisher = Taylor & Francis | year = 2003 | author-link = Christopher H. Sterling | first = Christopher H. | last = Sterling | access-date = November 30, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="Bulkeley-2004">{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5S40eFx2brAC&pg=PA200 | last = Bulkeley | first = Christy C | title = Whose news? Progress and status of women in newspapers (mostly) and television news. - Seeking Equity for Women in Journalism and Mass Communication Education: a 30-year update | year = 2004 | pages = 183–204 | publisher = Taylor & Francis | access-date = November 30, 2012 | ISBN = 9781135624002}}</ref>
<ref name="whw-2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-198058826.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150643/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-198058826.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 24, 2015 | title = The Association for Women in Communications Celebrates 100 Years of Championing Women in Communications | publisher = Women's Health Weekly via HighBeam Research | year = 2009 | access-date = November 30, 2012}} {{subscription required}}</ref>
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==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.womcom.org}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121104132352/http://matrixfoundation.us/home/ AWC Matrix Foundation official site] * [https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/women-in-communications-inc-records-1915.pdf Women in Communications, Inc. Records, 1915-] from the Indiana Historical Society
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Category:Women's organizations based in the United States Category:Organizations for women in business Category:American organizations established in 1999 Category:2023 disestablishments in the United States