| Matrix Awards | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Excellence in media achievements |
| Sponsored by | New York Women in Communications, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Established | 1930s |
| Website | nywici |
The Matrix Awards is an awards ceremony held annually by the New York Women in Communications, Inc. The award was created in the 1930s by Theta Sigma Phi journalism honor society and professional fraternity, later called Women in Communications, Inc. The Matrix Awards recognize exceptional women in the communications industry.
Theta Sigma Phi a national honor society and professional fraternity that was later called Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI) started the Matrix Awards in the 1920s to "emphasize throughout the country the achievements and of possibilities of women in journalism and authorship". Later, it purpose was expanded to recognize exceptional women in the communications industry, including advertising, the arts, books, broadcasting, entertainment, film, magazines, new media, newspapers, public relations, television, and theater. The name of the award comes from a matrix, the mold used to cast type, and represents the beginning of mass communication. The International Matrix Awards were presented by the national organization, The Matrix Awards were originally presented by Theta Sigma Phi chapters to individuals in their communities.
The New York chapter of WICI officially broke away from the national WICI organization in 1998 and became New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI) to provide its members with more localized benefits. At the time, both the WICI chapters and the NYWICI continued to present the award, with separate ceremonies that were chapter-based. The successor of WICI, the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), started the International Matrix Awards in 1998. After the dissolution of WICI national in 1996 and its successor, Association for Women in Communications, in 2023, NYWICI continues to present the Matrix Awards each year.
The awards are presented at the Matrix Awards luncheon, which also serves as a fundraiser for the New York Women in Communications Foundation to support college scholarships for communication students. In 2005, the Matrix Awards presenters included Tina Brown, Hillary Clinton, Allison Pearson, and Oprah Winfrey.
Historically, the Matrix Awards were presented in the categories of advertising, arts and entertainment, books, broadcasting, corporate communications, film/photography, magazines, marketing, newspapers, online media, public relations, radio, television, and special awards. In 2010, the categories were eliminated because they often overlapped and had been merged over time. The award now inducts women into the Matrix Awards Hall of Fame.
Some of the recipients of the Matrix Awards include the following, listed alphabetically by last name.
| Recipient | Year | Category | Presenting organization | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Abramson | 2006 | Newspapers | NYWICI | |
| Cindy Adams | 2007 | Newspapers | NYWICI | |
| Yamiche Alcindor | 2021 | NYWICI | ||
| Christiane Amanpour | 2005 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| 2008 | International Matrix Award | AWC | ||
| Madeline Amgott | 1975 | Broadcasting | WICI New York chapter | |
| Maya Angelou | 1983 | Books | WICI New York chapter | |
| Awkwafina | 2021 | NYWICI | ||
| Marvella Bayh | WICI Indianapolis chapter | |||
| Leslie Berland | 2025 | NYWICI | ||
| Halle Berry | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Pete Brewton | 1989 | Journalism – investigative/interpretive article | WICI Houston chapter | |
| Mika Brzezinski | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Susan Brownmiller | 1984 | Books | WICI New York chapter | |
| Devika Bulchandani | 2022 | NYWICI | ||
| Candace Bushnell | 2006 | Books | NYWICI | |
| Rukmini Callimachi | 2017 | NYWICI | ||
| Gretchen Carlson | 2017 | NYWICI | ||
| Nkechi Okloro Carrol | 2025 | NYWICI | ||
| Kristin Chenoweth | 2024 | NYWICI | ||
| Joanna Coles | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Beth Comstock | 2006 | Corporate Communications | NYWICI | |
| Judy Corman | 2001 | Public Relations | NYWICI | |
| Katie Couric | 2009 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| Sheryl Crow | 2010 | NYWICI | ||
| Ann Curry | 2009 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Laurel Cutler | 1985 | Advertising | WICI New York chapter | |
| Geena Davis | 2006 | Arts and Entertainment | NYWICI | |
| Angie Debo | 1942 | Oklahoma Woman of the Year | Theta Sigma Phi Oklahoma chapter | |
| Ellen DeGeneres | 2006 | Special Awards – Humanitarian Award | NYWICI | |
| Joan Didion | 2007 | Books | NYWICI | |
| Maureen Dowd | 1994 | Newspapers | WICI New York chapter | |
| Nancy Dubuc | 2016 | NYWICI | ||
| Lena Dunham | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Eve Ensler | 2002 | Arts and Entertainment | NYWICI | |
| Nora Ephron | 1997 | Film/Photography | WICI New York chapter | |
| Gail Evans | 2001 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Linda Fairstein | 2005 | Books | NYWICI | |
| Edie Falco | 2005 | Arts and Entertainment | NYWICI | |
| Rita Ferro | 2022 | NYWICI | ||
| Tina Fey | 2010 | NYWICI | ||
| Anne Finucane | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Moira Forbes | 2023 | NYWICI | ||
| Alix M. Freedman | 2004 | Newspapers | NYWICI | |
| Nina Garcia | 2024 | NYWICI | ||
| Nancy Gibbs | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Kirsten Gillibrand | 2015 | NYWICI | ||
| Ellen Goodman | 1999 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Linda Greenhouse | 2008 | Newspapers | NYWICI | |
| Mindy Grossman | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Savannah Guthrie | 2017 | NYWICI | ||
| Maggie Haberman | 2021 | NYWICI | ||
| Joan Hamburg | 2006 | Radio | NYWICI | |
| Bonnie Hammer | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Carla Hassan | 2020 | NYWICI | ||
| Mellody Hobson | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Karen Elliott House | 2006 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Arianna Huffington | 2007 | NYWICI | ||
| Lucy Jarvis | 1978 | Broadcasting | WICI New York chapter | |
| Barbara Jordan | 1970 | WICI Houston chapter | ||
| Jodi Kantor | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Liz Kaplow | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Gayle King | 2010 | NYWICI | ||
| Hoda Kotb | 2021 | NYWICI | ||
| Padma Lakshmi | 2019 | NYWICI | ||
| Debra L. Lee | 2015 | NYWICI | ||
| Cynthia Leive | 2006 | Magazines | NYWICI | |
| Billie Letts | 2011 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Meredith Kopit Levien | 2024 | NYWICI | ||
| Marlee Matlin | 2022 | NYWICI | ||
| Kati Marton | 2002 | Books | NYWICI | |
| Renetta McCann | 2006 | Advertising | NYWICI | |
| Cady McClain | 2017 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Audra McDonald | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Cynthia McFadden | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Dyllan McGee | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Mary McGrory | 1983 | Newspapers | WICI New York chapter | |
| Idina Menzel | 2011 | NYWICI | ||
| Stephanie Mehta | 2022 | NYWICI | ||
| Jane Mayer | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Janice Min | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Andrea Mitchell | 2015 | NYWICI | ||
| Toni Morrison | 1992 | Books | WICI New York chapter | |
| Roberta Myers | 2015 | NYWICI | ||
| Eileen S. Naughton | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Enid Nemy | 1984 | Newspapers | WICI New York chapter | |
| Norah O’Donnell | 2019 | NYWICI | ||
| Rosie O'Donnell | 2011 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| Dawn Ostroff | 2021 | NYWICI | ||
| Jane Pauley | 2008 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Queen Latifah | 2014 | NYWICI | ||
| Anna Quindlen | 1988 | Newspapers | WICI New York chapter | |
| Jane Bryant Quinn | 1983 | Magazines | WICI New York chapter | |
| Ruth Reichl | 2008 | Magazines | NYWICI | |
| Diane Rehm | 2000 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Robin Roberts | 2008 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| Bonnie St. John | 2013 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| Sheryl Sandberg | 2019 | NYWICI | ||
| Diane Sawyer | 2019 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| Dia Simms | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Michelle Singletary | 2009 | AWC D.C. chapter | ||
| Anna Deavere Smith | 2008 | Arts and Entertainment | NYWICI | |
| Judy Smith | 2017 | NYWICI | ||
| Megan Smith | 2015 | NYWICI | ||
| Emily Steel | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Gwen Stefani | 2022 | NYWICI | ||
| Martha Stewart | 1996 | Magazines | WICI New York chapter | |
| Meryl Streep | 1999 | Film/Photography | NYWICI | |
| Anne Sweeney | 2008 | Television | NYWICI | |
| Kara Swisher | 2013 | NYWICI | ||
| Amy Tan | 1996 | Books | NYWICI | |
| Tina Tchen | 2020 | NYWICI | ||
| Helen Thomas | 2002 | Newspapers | NYWICI | |
| 2007 | International Matrix Award | AWC | ||
| Megan Twohey | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Meredith Vieira | 2007 | Broadcasting | NYWICI | |
| Diane von Fürstenberg | 2008 | Special Award – Lifetime Achievement | NYWICI | |
| Alice Walker | 1986 | Books | WICI New York chapter | |
| Barbara Walters | 1978 | Broadcasting | WICI New York chapter | |
| Clarissa Ward | 2023 | NYWICI | ||
| Nancy Weber | 2017 | NYWICI | ||
| Kristen Welker | 2025 | NYWICI | ||
| Betty White | 2011 | Special Award – Lifetime Achievement | NYWICI | |
| Ruth Reinke Whitney | 1983 | |||
| Anna Wintour | 2002 | Magazines | NYWICI | |
| Judy Woodruff | 2003 | International Matrix Award | AWC | |
| 2022 | NYWICI | |||
| Muriel Hazel Wright | 1941 | Oklahoma Woman Writer of the Year | Theta Sigma Psi Oklahoma chapter | |
| Linda Yaccarino | 2020 | NYWICI | ||
| Bellamy Young | 2025 | NYWICI | ||
| Shelley Zalis | 2018 | NYWICI | ||
| Susan Zirinsky | 2020 | NYWICI |
The fictional television character C. J. Cregg received a Matrix Award on an episode of The West Wing.
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