Time Inc.'s Martha Nelson Receives Women's Media Center 'Going The Distance' Award Today, 11/13

The Women's Media Center's 2012 Women's Media Awards will honor Martha Nelson, Editorial Director of Time Inc., with The Women's Media Center's first annual Going The Distance Award.

Gloria Steinem., Co-Founder of The Women's Media Center, will present the award to Martha Nelson at The 2012 Women's Media Awards today, November 13, 2012 at Guastavino's in New York City with all three Women's Media Center Co-Founders, Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan & Ms. Steinem in attendance.

The Women's Media Awards recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing women's and girls' visibility and power in media.

"I am honored to be the recipient of the Women's Media Center "Going The Distance" Award," says Martha Nelson, Editorial Director of Time Inc. "The work being done by the WMC assures the accurate representation and clear voice for all women in media. Their activism on our behalf will surely pave the way forward for women in our industry."

"For over two decades, Martha Nelson has had a remarkable impact on the media world. She has broken the glass ceiling, becoming a highly influential editor and decision maker, with a business acumen that has long distinguished her as extraordinary in her field," says Robin Morgan, Co-Founder of The Women's Media Center.

"Martha Nelson is one of the great visionaries in the media world today. She has the rare ability to take ideas and turn them into reality. She continues to have a major impact on how the important news and cultural issues of our time are covered. Equally important, she has also used her power in the media world with great discernment and integrity," observes Jane Fonda, Co-Founder of The Women's Media Center.

"I've known Martha Nelson since she was the pioneer of an early feminist academic journal, and watched her take the publishing world by storm without ever sacrificing her principles, her balanced life, her spirit or her sense of fun. For anybody hoping for success and wholeness, just meet Martha!" says Gloria Steinem, Co-Founder of The Women's Media Center.

"While I have known Martha for many years, it was travelling together to visit film studios and television production facilities in China that deepened my admiration of her," says Loreen Arbus, Co-Chair of The Women's Media Awards. "We were about 20 women and I was the delegation leader. Martha was so utterly supportive, well-informed and a calming presence – she helped me navigate through intrigues and unusual customs. Martha is an incredibly creative, strong and universally respected leader. How great it is to honor her!"

"I've known Martha Nelson for nearly 30 years, watching her move up in the publishing ranks from being an editor at Ms. to becoming the Editorial Director at Time/Warner," says Donna Deitch, Co-Chair of The Women's Media Awards. "And I know why she's risen so high: She's faced every new journalism challenge with great aplomb, tireless hard work, brilliance, a clear vision of what lies ahead and a great sense of humor."

Martha Nelson was named Editorial Director of Time Inc. – the No. 2 editorial executive position in the company – in Dec. 2010. In this role she oversees 16 brands and all print and digital editors in both the Style & Entertainment Group and Lifestyle Group.

Prior positions held by Nelson include editor of Time Inc.'s Style & Entertainment Group, group editor of Time Inc., editor of the PEOPLE Group and founding editor of InStyle. She is credited with reinvigorating the PEOPLE brand and expanding its portfolio of editorial extensions including PEOPLE.com, the No. 1 celebrity magazine web site with 13 million monthly unique visitors, PEOPLE Stylewatch, which broke records by increasing ad pages for 30 consecutive issues from 2009-2012, and PEOPLE Country, dedicated to the popular country music scene and lifestyle. Prior to launching InStyle, Nelson had been an assistant to managing editor at PEOPLE, responsible for the human-interest segment of the magazine. Previously, she was a consulting editor at PEOPLE's sister publication in Australia, Who Weekly, which began publication in March 1992. Before coming to Time Inc., she was editor-in-chief of Savvy magazine and of Women's Sports & Fitness; staff editor at Ms. magazine and managing editor of Signs: Journal of Women in Culture & Society.

Nelson has been honored by many organizations for her philanthropic and professional achievements. In July 2012, Adweek named her one of the top 10 "Givers" in its portfolio of people applauded for giving back and "doing good." She was also recognized in April 2012 for her commitment to Women In Need, an organization that provides supportive housing and counseling to homeless and disadvantaged New York City women and their families. Nelson was invited to speak at the White House Conference on Missing and Exploited Children and was honored at the second annual "Hope Awards" by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) for increasing awareness on issues surrounding missing children.

Nelson is the president of the board of the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), serves on the Board of Directors for The Actors Fund, and is a member of the NYU Board of Advisors at the Center for Publishing.

She received her B.A. in art history from Barnard College and resides in New York City.

The 2012 Women's Media Awards are co-chaired by Loreen Arbus, Donna Deitch, Jodie Evans, Jane Fonda, Carol Jenkins, Robin Morgan & Gloria Steinem.

The Women's Media Center works to make women and girls visible and powerful in the media through strategic programs aimed at transforming the media landscape including media training, media monitoring and activism, original media content, media reports, media programs & initiatives.

The Women's Media Center was founded in 2005 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem.

"The Women's Media Center exists to change the status of women in media. Because 51 percent of our population is women and only 3% of all clout positions in media are held by women, the Women's Media Center Awards were created to honor champions for women who use their media platforms to tell the stories, facts, and solutions crucial to all viewers and to advance opportunities for women in media," says Julie Burton, President of the Women's Media Center. "Because media tells our stories and influences the role of women in every part of society, we are proud to honor these amazing women who set the standard for what media should look like when it gives voice to the female half of the country."

To buy tickets or for more information about The 2012 Women's Media Awards and the ongoing work of The Women's Media Center, go to www.womensmediacenter.com.