OMAHA, Neb. — Women in Media, a club dedicated to empowering female students pursuing careers in media, has made a comeback at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Originally founded in 2020 by Ana Bellinghausen, Avarie Howard, and Alexa Blase, the club aimed to “empower women at UNO seeking a career in media while also creating a sisterhood.” However, following the founders’ graduation in 2022, the group became inactive.
Two years later, Women in Media is back, thanks to the efforts of students Juliette Eckler and Lexi Montoya.
“We started the club again to build a community of like-minded people that we could connect with professionally and to spark new friendships,” Montoya said.
The revitalized organization remains committed to its original mission of encouraging women on campus to explore opportunities in the media field. The club plans to engage students through various mediums, including broadcasting, reporting, social media, podcasting, writing, and photography.
Eckler emphasized the value of joining the group.
“I would tell someone to join for the experiences and the relationship building,” she said. “I now have a safe space of people to lean on for support and to help them accomplish their dreams. Plus, getting to go to special events, meet industry professionals, call games, or work for a social media team are all things that really help you gain more experience.”
New member Ataviah Van Buren said she joined Women in Media to connect with others in her field.
“I joined to find a community of like-minded women in the same field as me,” Van Buren said. “So far, Women in Media has been an amazing organization to be a part of. The members are really helpful when it comes to making sure you are doing everything right and feeling confident while doing so.”
Looking ahead, Montoya hopes the organization will continue to grow.
“I hope it becomes well-known around campus and that the club can survive after all of the current members graduate,” she said.
Students interested in exploring the media field or building connections can follow @womeninmediauno on Instagram. A form to join the group can be found in the bio.
