Oprah Network To Explore Media Treatment of Sarah Palin and Others
by Elizabeth Sexton
The Oprah Winfrey Network acquired its eleventh documentary last week, “Miss Representation.” The film, directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, reflects on the portrayal of women in the media and the under-representation of women in positions of power.
Newsom, wife of California’s Lt. Gov. Mayor Gavin Newsom, takes an inside look at the challenge women in leadership face with limited and often disparaging depictions in the media.
The film reviews the media coverage of Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential election, and also shares insight from other influential women like Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem.
The trailer for the film shares a montage of clips and interviews, with one Fox News reporter saying, “You’ve all seen the photo from the weekend of Hillary Clinton look so haggard, and what looking like 92-years-old.”
In the next clip, Greta VanSusteren is asking Sarah Palin if she had breast implants, followed by a look at a commentator on another show joking that Nancy Pelosi would not admit to plastic surgery even she was waterboarded.
As the official press release states, ultimately, “Miss Representation” takes the stand that the media is portraying women’s primary values as their youth, beauty and sexuality – rather than their capacity as leaders.
The film, considered a Sundance favorite, will be picked up by ro*co films for further distribution.
“This is more than a film, it’s a movement. Reaching our country’s college youth is a distribution platform of great significance and long-term impact,” said founder of ro*co films Annie Roney.
“We look forward to working with the outreach team that Jennifer is putting together to widely promote this film in the educational market for many years.”
OWN’s Documentary Film Club promises great potential for audience engagement, and works on a marketing platform similar to Oprah’s Book Club. According to “Time Magazine,” the Oprah-effect on book endorsements alone can increase print runs by 500 percent.
