Women Toss Out Media; Convention United No Longer (Press, 6 June 1977)
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Summary: Women Toss Out Media; Convention United No Longer (Press, 6 June 1977)
On 6 June 1977, the United Women’s Convention took place without media coverage, following a decision by the coordinating committee to declare the Monday morning programme closed to journalists. This announcement was made during a press conference held the previous afternoon, indicating that the decision was made in the interest of the convention. The publicity committee, however, expressed regret over this exclusion and thanked the media for their support and generous coverage over the past year. It was also revealed that the publicity committee would disband immediately, a move that was met with applause from the female journalists present. Sandi Hall, one of the coordinators, declined to provide further details about the rationale behind the controversial decision, stating that it was a difficult situation. Earlier, female journalists had shown solidarity by boycotting convention workshops that were closed to male reporters. This action followed a public statement from the publicity committee, which had previously assured the media that while female reporters would be preferred, men would not be discriminated against. During the opening session of the convention, three male reporters faced hostility from attendees, notably a group of lesbian activists who booed them. One of the convention's organisers requested that a Radio New Zealand reporter, Mr J. Bishop, leave the venue to prevent the situation from escalating. Overall, the exclusion of the media from the United Women’s Convention proceedings sparked a complex interplay of solidarity among female journalists, tensions among attendees, and controversies surrounding access and representation.
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