Graphical version

Women's Library

Women's Media Action Group

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 106 5WMA

Held at: Women's Library

Title: Women's Media Action Group

Date(s): 1977-1990

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 3 A boxes

Name of creator(s): Women's Media Action Group
Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media
Women's Monitoring Network

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) was a voluntarily run feminist collective which campaigned against sexism and stereotyping of women in the media. It grew out of a previous organisation, Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media, (AFFIRM), which was established in 1977. WMAG dissolved itself in 1989 due to lack of support. The organisation felt that the reason for this was that they had a negative mission, i.e. they campaigned against an issue instead of promoting a positive viewpoint. Meetings were held fortnightly and a newsletter was produced six times a year.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

The archive consists of Papers of Alliance for Fair Images and Representation in the Media (AFFIRM), Women's Media Action Group (WMAG) and the Women's Monitoring Network.

The collection includes policy documents including minutes, manifestos, programmes of action and press releases, correspondence of members with various individuals and groups including Lord Hill, the Home Office, etc on the images of women in the media, papers related to symposia organised by the group and the book 'Is This Your life?' administration papers and general correspondence.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Arranged into series representing AFFIRM, WMAG and the Women's Monitoring Network.

Conditions governing access:

TThis collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit. Appointments may be required to access the audio-visual material in the collection.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Physical characteristics:

Paper, VHS video and Betamax video, audio cassette tape.

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The archives of the Women in Media Group were held in the homes of various members of the organisation before being deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library). The papers were deposited by a former member of the organisation in Nov 1997. Some personal papers of Margaret Deyes, founder of AFFIRM were already integrated.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The records were deposited with the Women's Library (formerly the Fawcett Library) in three accessions, firstly in May 1989 by the BBC, then in Jun 1996 by the group's archivist and then in 1999, also by the group's archivist.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The Women's Library Printed Collections holds the newsletter of the Women's Media Action Group.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: This document was generated by Javascript from an HTML form which structured the input according to the elements of ISAD(G) Version 2. Collection description by Maxine Willett, Assistant Archivist, The Women's Library, Oct 2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.