Gloria Steinem travels widely as a feminist activist, organizer, writer and lecturer. Her books include the bestsellers Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Moving Beyond Words, and Marilyn: Norma Jean, on the life of Marilyn Monroe. She was an editor of The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Steinem co-founded New York Magazine and Ms. Magazine where continues to serve as a consulting editor. She has been published in many magazines and newspapers here and in other countries, and is also a frequent guest commentator on radio and television.

She helped to found the Women's Action Alliance, the National Women's Political Caucus, and Choice USA. She was the founding president of the Ms. Foundation for Women and helped create Take Our Daughters to Work Day. She has served on the board of trustees of Smith College, and was a member of the Beyond Racism Initiative, a comparative study of racial patterns in the U.S., South Africa, and Brazil. She has also co-produced a documentary on child abuse for HBO, and a feature film for Lifetime

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Gloria Steinem Response to Couric - April 06, 2006

April 06, 2006

Gloria Steinem, a founder of The Women's Media Center, has the following words in response to Katie Couric's recent move:

By leaving a safe haven, taking a pay cut, and risking the harsh spotlight of being a "first," Katie Couric has already given women an example of strength.

Critics may say she just doesn't want to get up so early anymore, or shouldn't be hiding her legs behind a news desk, or doesn't have "gravitas" -- the intellectual word for testicles - but my bet is they will be examples of bias in future journalism.

I think she will give us back what we haven't had since Walter Cronkite -- a trusted messenger who conveys the human meaning of the news - and that she will also expand the definition of news beyond those few stories heard everywhere. After all, her reporting single-handedly increased testing and lowered mortality for a major form of cancer; an experience one doesn't forget.

One thing is sure, women and girls will have their first vision of a female network anchor who is an authority on her own. Since we learn by example, there is no telling where that iconic image may lead.

Gloria Steinem is board member of the Women’s Media Center.