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Ann Medina

telling it as it is

YWCA Toronto woman of distinction 2007, communications

Seeing Ann Medina report from war-ravaged Beirut as Bureau Chief influenced an entire generation of women journalists.  Throughout her career, Ms. Medina has succeeded on her own terms, working in a field traditionally reserved for men. As one of Canada’s foremost journalists, Ms. Medina is an extraordinary role model for women, encouraging her viewers to see people as they really are by looking beyond the "costumes" of race, gender, religion and income that too often blind us from reality. From her work with organizations that focus on women’s leadership, to ones that help women create artistic depictions of themselves on film, her work mentoring other women is extraordinary.  For these, and many more reasons, Ms. Medina is the recipient of the YWCA Toronto 2007 Woman of Distinction Award for Communications.

Once dismissed as 'Suzy Creamcheese' by a famous Canadian news anchor who foolishly assumed she was a trainee, Ann Medina began her exemplary broadcasting career in Chicago almost forty years ago, at a time when newswomen were viewed as anomalies and designated "community" reporters.  Born in New York City and educated at Wellesley College, Harvard, the University of Edinburgh and University of Chicago, where she graduated with an MA in philosophy, she began her television career as a Network Producer for NBC News in Chicago and later became a Correspondent and Producer for ABC News. 

After coming to Canada to marry a Canadian in 1975, Ms. Medina worked for CBC’s Newsmagazine, where she later became its Executive Producer.  She joined CBC’s The Journal at its inception in 1981, becoming its Senior Foreign Correspondent.  As one of the only women reporting from the Middle East in the early eighties, she exuded confidence by wearing a pink blouse - not the khaki safari jackets so many of her male colleagues wore - practically ensuring she didn't resemble a military target. Today Ann Medina is recognized not just for her pioneering efforts but also for her journalistic integrity, presenting people as they are, not as they might appear.

Currently, Ms. Medina hosts History Television’s History on Film and Fact and Film.  From Bhopal and Beirut in the eighties to addressing the United Nations’ World Television Conference; moderating Federal Election Debates; impacting international broadcasting at the North American Broadcasters Association; serving on Foreign Minister Lloyd Axeworthy’s Advisory Board; to her participation in Ontario’s Committee on Technology and Education, Ann Medina is an Emmy award-winning international powerhouse whose reputation is legendary in the field of journalism.

Beyond her ground-breaking career, Ms. Medina is well-known for her commitment to mentoring other women.  Her work with the International Women’s Forum (IWF), an organization of top women leaders in twenty-one nations on five continents, has been lauded for making connections between generations of women.  There she has been responsible for creating a global programming initiative for young women, offering them the insights, involvement and perspectives of the world’s evolving leaders. Her interest in bridging women’s viewpoints is at once inspirational and grounding, providing women leaders with the insights of the next generation, and young women with knowledge of their forebears.  In 2001, the IWF honoured her with its "Woman Who Makes a Difference" award.

Ms. Medina was the first woman to Chair the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. She is the past Chair of the Cultural Industries Council of Ontario, and has served on the boards of TVOntario, the Calmeadow Foundation, ACTRA, Humber College and Toronto Women in Film and Television, which also honoured her with their "Outstanding Achievement" award.  She has also received five Honorary Degrees, including one from the University of Toronto. 

Ann Medina knows that a difference can be made when women hold positions of leadership in the media and have the ability to demonstrate to the world who they really are.  But her ongoing intergenerational work, and her devotion and focused efforts to improving the lives of other women and girls throughout the world can be seen beyond her media work, in her advocacy efforts, leadership and mentoring of other women. Her philosophy that it is incumbent upon women to make a difference for other women in this world is best manifest in her declaration, "Who else are we waiting for to show up to do the work?"

For showing up and doing the work, YWCA Toronto is proud to recognize Ann Medina as the 2007 Woman of Distinction for Communications.

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