TWM is an alliance of NGOs working for change in South African media. Born out of a need to change the way South African media portrays women, the alliance, after a strategic planning workshop, recognised the need to work together in order to ensure major impact when tackling the media. The member organisations have all been involved in some form of media monitoring or education. Through consolidation of work, the alliance plans several activities to impact on the media.

Violence against women is the focus for 1998. Activities planned include working with the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) to ensure that Editors Guidelines are adopted, working with community radio stations to ensure that they address violence against women, a campaign on National Women's Day to highlight effects of negative media reporting of women, workshops on how to effectively monitor the media and video screening and discussion with media on appropriate images of women.

The alliance is open to any organisation that wants to take action against negative portrayal of women in the media. Meetings are held twice a month and workshops are planned in line with the programme of action.

ENQUIRIES: Naomi Webster, Transformation for Women in the Media (TWM)
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4267/70
E-mail: naomi@wn.apc.org