WIPP was founded in 1999 by five women who felt the need for a national organization that addressed the leadership aspirations of women in periodical publishing. WIPP was formed with two goals: to educate, empower and support women in print and online publishing and to educate, empower and support women through the power of publishing.
WIPP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Dedicated to helping women in magazine publishing support each other, develop leadership skills, balance professional and personal interests and foster growth for smaller, independent publications by and for women, WIPP offers a wide range of community building and professional development programs through its gatherings, communications, advocacy, mentoring and research.
WIPP has built a strong and diverse community through regional events, social networking and the annual Women's Leadership Conference. Each year WIPP selects an accomplished woman to receive the Exceptional Woman in Publishing Award that is presented to her at the Women's Leadership Conference. Previous recipients of the award include:
1999 Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine
2000 Bonnie Krueger, founding publisher, Associated Press publications
2001 Linda Gardiner, founding editor, Women's Review of Books
2002 Rita Henley Jensen, founding editor, Women's ENews
2003 Susan Taylor, founding editor, Essence
2004 Ardie Rodale and Marie Rodale, Rodale Press
2005 Eleanor Clift, author and contributing editor, Newsweek
2006 Lynn Povich, journalist and former Editor-in-Chief, Working Woman
2007 Phyllis Hoffman, president and CEO, Hoffman Media LLC
2008 Alix Kennedy, former vp and editorial director of Family-Fun and Wondertime magazines, part of Disney Publishing Worldwide
2009 Dorothy Kalins, former executive editor of Newsweek, founding editor of Saveur, who is currently running the show at Dorothy Kalins, Ink.
