Geena Davis lobbies for bill that will help women (Reuters)

By Cassie M. Chew Cassie M. Chew – 11 mins ago

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis joined Senator Kay Hagan and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to introduce a bill that would support efforts to improve the image of girls and women in the media.

"I am proud to join with Sen. Hagan and Rep. Baldwin to promote gender equality and positive portrayals of women and girls in the media," Davis said in a statement. "What children see affects their attitudes toward male and female roles and impacts the value they place on girls and women in society. The Healthy Media for Youth Act will help ensure we are creating a positive media environment for all our children."

The legislation would provide grants to encourage and support media literacy programs and youth empowerment groups, facilitate research on how depictions of women and girls in the media affect youth.

It also would establish a National Taskforce on Women and Girls in the Media, intended to develop voluntary standards that promote healthy, balanced, and positive images of girls and women in the media.

The bill's introduction coincides with the first meeting of the Healthy Media Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls, co-chaired by Davis and former FCC Chairman Deborah Taylor Tate. With representatives from more than 30 media and women's organizations, the commission's goals include developing best practices for improving the images of women in the film industry.

Davis founded an institute on gender equality in media and has been collecting research on women in film for the past six years. According to its research, negative and stereotypical images of women have persisted Hollywood for decades.

"When there is a woman working as a writer or producer in a film, there is a greater chance that the film will include more positive images of women and girls," Davis said.

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Women in Film honors Annette Bening, Katie Holmes (AP)

By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – Fri Jun 17, 5:34 am ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Annette Bening, Katie Holmes, CBS President Nina Tassler, director Pamela Fryman and cinematographer Reed Morano have been recognized as leaders in their fields by Women in Film.

The nonprofit group honored the women Thursday at its annual Crystal and Lucy awards ceremony in Beverly Hills.

In accepting her award, Bening said she is "entering into a new phase" and "beginning again" and hinted at some interesting projects in the coming year. Holmes thanked her parents, who were in the audience, and husband Tom Cruise, "whose commitment to his work and family inspires me daily."

Tassler oversees primetime, daytime and late-night programming at CBS. Fryman is a director of "How I Met Your Mother." Morano's credits include 2008's "Frozen River."

Elizabeth Taylor was also recognized for her humanitarian efforts. Her granddaughter Naomi Wilding accepted the award.

Women in Film President Cathy Shulman dedicated the evening to Laura Ziskin, the "Spider Man" producer and Stand Up To Cancer co-founder producer who died earlier this week of breast cancer.

"Bridesmaids" star Melissa McCarthy sang and danced as host of the fundraising event at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where Martin Sheen, Geena Davis, Neil Patrick Harris, Elle Fanning and Jenna Elfman were among the celebrity guests.

Women in Film was established in 1973 to help women succeed in the entertainment industry by providing scholarships, classes and other services and support.

___

Online:

www.wif.org

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Rihanna says "Man Down" video empowers women (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B singer Rihanna has defended a controversial music video that shows her gunning down a man, saying it is a message of empowerment for girls.

"Man Down" features Rihanna shooting to death a man who appears in the music video to have sexually assaulted her a day earlier.

The Parents Television Council, the Enough is Enough campaign and think tank Industry Ears, have attacked the video as an act of calculated murder that will encourage young women to turn to violence.

Rihanna told Black Entertainment Television (BET) on Thursday that "Man Down" addresses the topic of rape. The 23 year-old singer was the victim of a violent 2009 physical attack by then boyfriend singer Chris Brown.

"Rape is happening all over the world and we continue to cover it up and pretend it doesn't happen," Rihanna told BET in an interview.

"Girls are empowered by this ... I'm just really impressed that my fans get it," she said. "That was really important to me. This is a story for them."

She also told BET, which itself drew criticism for airing the video, that the girl she depicts is "not a cold-blooded killer" and she shows remorse about the killing.

"I didn't do it to make a controversial video," Rihanna said. "I wanted to make a mini-movie, something raw and artistic."

Rihanna has also defended the video on Twitter.

"The music industry isn't exactly Parents R Us! We have the freedom to make art, LET US! Its your job to make sure they don't turn out like US," Rihanna said in one Twitter posting.

The Barbados native also spoke of double standards that allow depictions of women being exploited in music videos. "Now a woman flips the coin & look!" she wrote.

"Man Down", the latest single from Rihanna's album "Loud", was released last week.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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