Matrix Awards

American award for achievements in media From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Matrix Awards is an awards ceremony held annually by the New York Women in Communications, Inc. The award was created in the 1930s by Theta Sigma Phi journalism honor society and professional fraternity, later called Women in Communications, Inc. The Matrix Awards recognize exceptional women in the communications industry.

Awarded forExcellence in media achievements
Sponsored byNew York Women in Communications, Inc.
CountryUnited States
Established1930s
Quick facts Awarded for, Sponsored by ...
Matrix Awards
Awarded forExcellence in media achievements
Sponsored byNew York Women in Communications, Inc.
CountryUnited States
Established1930s
Websitenywici.org/matrix
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History

Theta Sigma Phi a national honor society and professional fraternity that was later called Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) started the Matrix Awards in the 1920s to "emphasize throughout the country the achievements and of possibilities of women in journalism and authorship".[1] Later, it purpose was expanded to recognize exceptional women in the communications industry, including advertising, the arts, books, broadcasting, entertainment, film, magazines, new media, newspapers, public relations, television, and theater.[2][3][4] The name of the award comes from a matrix, the mold used to cast type, and represents the beginning of mass communication.[5] The International Matrix Awards were presented by the national organization,[6] The Matrix Awards were originally presented by Theta Sigma Phi chapters to individuals in their communities.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

The New York chapter of WICI officially broke away from the national WICI organization in 1998 and became New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI) to provide its members with more localized benefits.[4] At the time, both the WICI chapters and the NYWICI continued to present the award, with separate ceremonies that were chapter-based.[14][15][16][17] The successor of WICI, the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), started the International Matrix Awards in 1998.[18] After the dissolution of WICI national in 1996 and its successor, Association for Women in Communications, in 2023,[19] NYWICI continues to present the Matrix Awards each year.[20]

The awards are presented at the Matrix Awards luncheon, which also serves as a fundraiser for the New York Women in Communications Foundation to support college scholarships for communication students.[3] In 2005, the Matrix Awards presenters included Tina Brown, Hillary Clinton, Allison Pearson, and Oprah Winfrey.[3]

Awards

Historically, the Matrix Awards were presented in the categories of advertising, arts and entertainment, books, broadcasting, corporate communications, film/photography, magazines, marketing, newspapers, online media, public relations, radio, television, and special awards.[21] In 2010, the categories were eliminated because they often overlapped and had been merged over time.[21] The award now inducts women into the Matrix Awards Hall of Fame.[21][22]

Some of the recipients of the Matrix Awards include the following, listed alphabetically by last name.

More information Recipient, Year ...
Recipient Year Category Presenting organization References
Jill Abramson 2006 Newspapers NYWICI [23]
Cindy Adams 2007 Newspapers NYWICI [21][24]
Yamiche Alcindor 2021 NYWICI [21]
Christiane Amanpour 2005 Broadcasting NYWICI [3][21]
2008 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Madeline Amgott 1975 Broadcasting WICI New York chapter [4]
Maya Angelou 1983 Books WICI New York chapter [21][25]
Awkwafina 2021 NYWICI [21]
Marvella Bayh WICI Indianapolis chapter [26]
Leslie Berland 2025 NYWICI [27]
Halle Berry 2018 NYWICI [21]
Pete Brewton 1989 Journalism – investigative/interpretive article WICI Houston chapter [28]
Mika Brzezinski 2018 NYWICI [21]
Susan Brownmiller 1984 Books WICI New York chapter [5]
Devika Bulchandani 2022 NYWICI [21]
Candace Bushnell 2006 Books NYWICI [23]
Rukmini Callimachi 2017 NYWICI [2]
Gretchen Carlson 2017 NYWICI [2]
Nkechi Okloro Carrol 2025 NYWICI [27]
Kristin Chenoweth 2024 NYWICI [29]
Joanna Coles 2013 NYWICI [30]
Beth Comstock 2006 Corporate Communications NYWICI [23]
Judy Corman 2001 Public Relations NYWICI [21][31]
Katie Couric 2009 Broadcasting NYWICI [3][21][23]
Sheryl Crow 2010 NYWICI [20][32]
Ann Curry 2009 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Laurel Cutler 1985 Advertising WICI New York chapter [4]
Geena Davis 2006 Arts and Entertainment NYWICI [21][23]
Angie Debo 1942 Oklahoma Woman of the Year Theta Sigma Phi Oklahoma chapter [33]
Ellen DeGeneres 2006 Special Awards – Humanitarian Award NYWICI [21][23]
Joan Didion 2007 Books NYWICI [21][24]
Maureen Dowd 1994 Newspapers WICI New York chapter [3][21][34]
Nancy Dubuc 2016 NYWICI [21]
Lena Dunham 2014 NYWICI [21]
Eve Ensler 2002 Arts and Entertainment NYWICI [21]
Nora Ephron 1997 Film/Photography WICI New York chapter [21]
Gail Evans 2001 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Linda Fairstein 2005 Books NYWICI [3][21]
Edie Falco 2005 Arts and Entertainment NYWICI [21]
Rita Ferro 2022 NYWICI [21]
Tina Fey 2010 NYWICI [32]
Anne Finucane 2013 NYWICI [30]
Moira Forbes 2023 NYWICI [21]
Alix M. Freedman 2004 Newspapers NYWICI [35]
Nina Garcia 2024 NYWICI [29]
Nancy Gibbs 2014 NYWICI [21]
Kirsten Gillibrand 2015 NYWICI [21]
Ellen Goodman 1999 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Linda Greenhouse 2008 Newspapers NYWICI [15][21][16]
Mindy Grossman 2013 NYWICI [30]
Savannah Guthrie 2017 NYWICI [2]
Maggie Haberman 2021 NYWICI [21]
Joan Hamburg 2006 Radio NYWICI [23]
Bonnie Hammer 2013 NYWICI [30]
Carla Hassan 2020 NYWICI [21]
Mellody Hobson 2014 NYWICI [21]
Karen Elliott House 2006 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Arianna Huffington 2007 NYWICI [24]
Lucy Jarvis 1978 Broadcasting WICI New York chapter [4]
Barbara Jordan 1970 WICI Houston chapter [36]
Jodi Kantor 2018 NYWICI [21]
Liz Kaplow 2014 NYWICI [21]
Gayle King 2010 NYWICI [20][21]
Hoda Kotb 2021 NYWICI [21]
Padma Lakshmi 2019 NYWICI [21]
Debra L. Lee 2015 NYWICI [21]
Cynthia Leive 2006 Magazines NYWICI [23]
Billie Letts 2011 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Meredith Kopit Levien 2024 NYWICI [29]
Marlee Matlin 2022 NYWICI [21]
Kati Marton 2002 Books NYWICI [3][21]
Renetta McCann 2006 Advertising NYWICI [23]
Cady McClain 2017 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Audra McDonald 2013 NYWICI [30]
Cynthia McFadden 2014 NYWICI [21]
Dyllan McGee 2014 NYWICI [21]
Mary McGrory 1983 Newspapers WICI New York chapter [21][25]
Idina Menzel 2011 NYWICI [37]
Stephanie Mehta 2022 NYWICI [21]
Jane Mayer 2014 NYWICI [21]
Janice Min 2014 NYWICI [21]
Andrea Mitchell 2015 NYWICI [21]
Toni Morrison 1992 Books WICI New York chapter [21]
Roberta Myers 2015 NYWICI [21]
Eileen S. Naughton 2014 NYWICI [21]
Enid Nemy 1984 Newspapers WICI New York chapter [5][21]
Norah O’Donnell 2019 NYWICI [21]
Rosie O'Donnell 2011 Broadcasting NYWICI [3][21][37]
Dawn Ostroff 2021 NYWICI [21]
Jane Pauley 2008 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Queen Latifah 2014 NYWICI [21]
Anna Quindlen 1988 Newspapers WICI New York chapter [3][21]
Jane Bryant Quinn 1983 Magazines WICI New York chapter [21][25]
Ruth Reichl 2008 Magazines NYWICI [21][16]
Diane Rehm 2000 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Robin Roberts 2008 Broadcasting NYWICI [15][21][16]
Bonnie St. John 2013 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Sheryl Sandberg 2019 NYWICI [22][20]
Diane Sawyer 2019 Broadcasting NYWICI [5][21]
Dia Simms 2018 NYWICI [21]
Michelle Singletary 2009 AWC D.C. chapter [14]
Anna Deavere Smith 2008 Arts and Entertainment NYWICI [21]
Judy Smith 2017 NYWICI [2]
Megan Smith 2015 NYWICI [21]
Emily Steel 2018 NYWICI [21]
Gwen Stefani 2022 NYWICI [21]
Martha Stewart 1996 Magazines WICI New York chapter [21][30]
Meryl Streep 1999 Film/Photography NYWICI [21]
Anne Sweeney 2008 Television NYWICI [15][21][16]
Kara Swisher 2013 NYWICI [30]
Amy Tan 1996 Books NYWICI [21]
Tina Tchen 2020 NYWICI [21]
Helen Thomas 2002 Newspapers NYWICI [3][21]
2007 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
Megan Twohey 2018 NYWICI [21]
Meredith Vieira 2007 Broadcasting NYWICI [21]
Diane von Furstenberg 2008 Special Award – Lifetime Achievement NYWICI [15][21]
Alice Walker 1986 Books WICI New York chapter [21]
Barbara Walters 1978 Broadcasting WICI New York chapter [21]
Clarissa Ward 2023 NYWICI [21]
Nancy Weber 2017 NYWICI [21]
Kristen Welker 2025 NYWICI [27]
Betty White 2011 Special Award – Lifetime Achievement NYWICI [37]
Ruth Reinke Whitney 1983 [38]
Anna Wintour 2002 Magazines NYWICI [21]
Judy Woodruff 2003 International Matrix Award AWC [18]
2022 NYWICI [21]
Muriel Hazel Wright 1941 Oklahoma Woman Writer of the Year Theta Sigma Psi Oklahoma chapter [39]
Linda Yaccarino 2020 NYWICI [21]
Bellamy Young 2025 NYWICI [27]
Shelley Zalis 2018 NYWICI [21]
Susan Zirinsky 2020 NYWICI [21]
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Popular culture

The fictional television character C. J. Cregg received a Matrix Award on an episode of The West Wing.[3]

See also

References

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