We are Women in Jazz Media are a team of women passionate about achieving a very clear goal: A equal, diverse, safe and healthy Jazz Industry. We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive and the very kind comments. We wanted to share with you some of the work we have been doing and also how you could support further, if you wanted to. First up, writers.

What we do

We actively seek out existing female writers and support and promote their work

We look for new female writers and offer support

Mentoring scheme for new writers

We work with our partner publications to create a diverse and gender balanced voice and ensure female writers have a place

We have created the Women in Jazz Media bookcase to share and promote female authors

We ask established writers to share their experiences and guidance through our podcast series and our ‘tips and guidance’ resource

We published our first entirely female led and managed magazine platforming women. 60% of the writers were female and 40% were male writers that we invited to contribute.

Since we started, we have increased the gender balance on three Jazz publications and one of those publications now has their first black female writer.

What you can do

Read, support and share the work of female writers

If you are interested in writing, get in touch!

If you are an experienced writer and would like to support new writers, consider applying to be one our mentors

If you are an experienced writer and would like to share some guidance, please get in touch.

If you know someone who you think would be great at writing, tell them, and get in touch!

If you see a publication that is not equal and diverse, let us know and we will try to work with that publication.

Working in the Jazz industry is a struggle for us all, especially since COVID19. We at Women in Jazz Media have been working hard to support female/female identifying artists across the world in many ways and we continue to develop and grow the ways we can support. We are very happy to announce a new initiative led by Monika S. Jakubowska.

• Free photo shoots for female Jazz artists who are experiencing financial hardship.

Monika S. Jakubowska is a renowned photographer, with work published in many publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and she is one of the official photographers at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. She says ‘I really want to help young people working on their project and in need of promo shoots, band shots and so on. People who really need some support’

This is a pilot project for musicians who are either based in London, or able to travel to London. We hope to open this up across the UK and beyond soon with a range of female photographers.

We would like to support anyone who needs support in a fair and transparent way. Using guidance from the Help Musicians UK support fund, applications are open to anyone who is under financial hardship for example:

Receiving Universal Credit and still struggling to make ends meet.

Not eligible for Universal Credit but experiencing significant financial hardship and struggling to make ends meet

Complex needs that go beyond financial hardship. These may include long-term health issues, complicated domestic circumstances or complex financial situations.

We would value an open dialogue with you to ensure this financial support offer is going to women who need it. All applications will be considered and explored confidentially by the Women in Jazz Media team.

Please note if you are successful, there is no requirement for you to reference the Women in Jazz Media Support Project in any way, but you will be required to credit the photographer for their work and be an advocate for ensuring their work is credited whenever it is used.

Applications are through this form: Women in Jazz Media Photography Support Fund

As part of our ongoing mission to create a more diverse Jazz industry, we have been contacting publications, authors and journalists to ask if they would share their top tips and guidance to help new writers. We have been thrilled by the response and are very happy to publish some thoughts from the inspirational Angelika Beener

I love jazz because it is one of the most honest forms of expression there is. It requires honesty, intelligence, integrity and vulnerability. These essentials are needed in all facets of humanity. I love jazz because it's a blueprint for how we should operate in the world.

To jazz writers, my advice would be to come to the craft the same way a musician comes to their craft. It comes back to honesty. Let the music lead you, always. Writers can get caught up in lots of traps. And while pitches, and hooks and marketing have their place, when you sit down to write, let it come from a heart space. Even if you're doing a review or a critique... open the heart center. Because that's where you'll find your originality as a writer.

To the musicians out there, I know that now -- especially as we wade through the challenges of a pandemic -- things are tough. Not only are we faced with some big challenges, but there's no certain or clear-cut solution for us all just yet. Keep perfecting your craft. Make use of the time that the world has slowed down to get your practice regimen together; get a band together to rehearse with; stream performances online... hone your craft! Because things will indeed get moving again. And when they do, preparation will be important. So, make sure that you are working on your craft every single day!

As part of our ongoing mission to create a more diverse Jazz industry, we have been contacting publications to ask if they would share their top tips and guidance to help new writers. We have been thrilled by the response and are very happy to publish our first one from Nick Lea, Editor in Chief of Jazz Views

Top tips for new writers

Nick Lea: Editor in Chief of Jazz Views

When writing a review always approach it with an open mind. Often preconceptions about an artist that you either know or have heard about from press releases or colleagues/friends will be at odds with what you are about to listen too. In other words, 'don't judge a book by its cover' and expect the unexpected.

Try not to read other reviews of the album that have been published elsewhere. You do not want the thoughts of others to influence your take on what you are listening too. Sometimes others will also come to the same conclusions as you, and if you have read this elsewhere it may discourage you from writing what you really feel about the music for fear of paraphrasing or echoing the sentiments of another reviewer.

If at all possible, your first listen to the album should be 'blind' without having read the sleeve notes or press releases.

I always like to listen to an album at least 3 or 4 times, usually more, before writing my review. It is okay to make notes at this stage but be prepared to revise or change your opinions as you get to know the music. You will always find things that you have not heard on previous listening.

If you do not like the music, that is fine but do not simply dismiss it. You can write about what you did find interesting and write constructively about what did not appeal. Always remember when reviewing an album that this is the culmination of someone's life work. The hours spent studying, practicing and live performance have all led to the recording you are listening to.

Always be yourself when reviewing albums. It is your opinion that your readers want not a mirror image of what they may have read elsewhere. We all hear music from different perspectives, we may be musicians or have no musical or theoretical knowledge but just enjoy listening, but your opinion in well written and thought-out review will be valued.

Above all, enjoy the process of writing the review!