‘Women’s Print HERstory Month’ coincides with Women’s History Month to align the telling of stories that empower and inspire the fierce fabulous females of print, as well as young women and students entering the industry or considering print as a career. Launched in 2019 by Girls Who Print, Women’s Print HERstory Month returns March 2020, and Girls Who Print is mobilizing the women in the industry, calling on them to stand up, speak up and share their career and success stories through social media using the hashtag #PrintHERstoryMonth.
This mission is also a call to action to global businesses across all segments of the print industry to seize this opportunity and put the incredible female leaders who manage teams, develop technology, and shatter sales targets in your company front and center, and share the incredible achievements of women in print with the world.
There are no limitations when it comes to how to engage with Women’s Print HERstory Month. Participants are encouraged to create or share content in any form that celebrates the amazing women in the industry and send it out through social media using the hashtag #PrintHERstoryMonth, or send content to Girls Who Print to post it on their site. Podcasts From The Printerverse has a Girls Who Print podcast series, and many of the industry organizations have ‘Women In Print’ initiatives and events worth sharing in March.
Another way to get involved is to share content that celebrates print’s fearless female leaders from trade media sites, but that search may produce a shortlist of results. The industry media has an opportunity to step up and support Women’s Print HERstory Month by giving women equal visibility in March, and a responsibility to implement an ongoing strategy for more gender-balanced coverage.
Deborah Corn, Girl #1 at Girls Who Print, says: “Women’s Print HERstory Month is about women in print refusing to be drowned out by the male voices that dominate the narrative of our industry, and taking power for themselves by standing up and shouting, ‘This is what I do!’ Everyone can show their support by following the hashtag stream and engaging with the content. A ‘like’ or a reshare or a retweet is an acknowledgment that the achievements of women in print matter.”
Women’s Print HERStory Month isn’t just for corporations and trade media. Print shops also need to set examples for their communities, and especially for workforce development. Kelly Mallozzi, Girl #2 at Girls Who Print, explains why print businesses should share their female-led stories: “Simply put, you need to tell them and we need to hear them. The newer generations in the printing industry need all the help they can get in navigating their careers, building their development plan, and setting themselves up for success. The more seasoned among us need to tell their stories because it helps shape the narrative of where we’ve been, where we are now and where we’re going.”
To request interviews with Deborah Corn or Kelly Mallozzi, please contact karis@printmediacentr.com
About Girls Who Print
Now in its eleventh year, Girls Who Print provides women in print and graphic communications with information and resources to help them navigate the industry, and their careers. With a focus on community building and open knowledge sharing, the Girls Who Print LinkedIn group has grown to more than 6000 global members. In 2019, Girls Who Print partnered with the Printing Industries of America to provide the Women’s Print Mentoring Network, a free platform to help create strong and meaningful mentoring relationships.
To to get involved and get empowered, join the Girls Who Print LinkedIn group: linkedin.com/groups/1969742/
About Print Media Centr
Print Media Centr provides printspiration and resources to our vast network of print and marketing professionals through online content, event support and coverage, and Podcasts From The Printerverse. Print Media Centr also works with printers, suppliers and industry organizations to help them create meaningful relationships with customers, and achieve success with their social media and content marketing endeavors.
Visit printmediacentr.com and connect with The Printerverse. Print Long and Prosper!
Considering how much the print industry took a hit in the early part of 2000, I am in awe that women have evolved in the trade. My apprenticeship to printing began in the early 1970’s from a litho company that took me on learning proofing and pre-press. I was the only woman other than the owners wife who worked there for years. I continued to learn and grow and how to turn the other cheek when it came to dodging comments about being female and my expectations in industry. I survived with that company through 2 company take overs and then 30 years later with a severance package. They were the best years of my life. My title had gone up the ranks from proofer/platemaker to stripper to pre-press operator. I was trained at the being of the digital age. I was an artist and always have kept my skills in the field. I went on to work in flexible packaging design and now in graphic and product design.
Currently business opportunity only seems to recognize a degree over talent and learned processes. While they want the experience that years can bring they are basing their company growth on being on trend, in tech and under budget in the industry. This may just be a regional road bump but my thoughts are employers feel older people cannot pick up current tech processes and will not be as committed in the face of impending retirement. So not true. I learned some pretty complicated ripping systems and would love not to retire. I just want to love my job.
So my advice is stay in school and get the paper. It lasts a lifetime. I can only hope at my age that I can find a new path to follow that will be as rewarding as the print industry was for me. A big shout out to all of Ivy Hill Graphics and Printpack. Good times, great people.