Jennifer L. Pozner is a media critic, journalist, and founder of the non-profit Women In Media & News. She is the author of It’s Not You, It’s Media: Decoding What We Watch, Read, Post, Buy, and Create, the first-ever media literacy graphic novel for adults (forthcoming, 23rd Street Books). Her 2010 book, Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV, was the first to expose reality TV’s impact on women, people of color, and civic life. She has conducted media literacy lectures and workshops at hundreds of colleges, high schools, museums, and companies across the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Ireland, and the United Nations. You may have read her in the New York Times, The Village Voice, The Nation, The Daily Beast, and Salon, among other outlets, or heard her on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, PBS, NPR, and various podcasts. She was an advisor and commentator in the award-winning documentary Miss Representation, and featured in the VICE doc series The Dark Side of Reality TV. The inaugural Voice of Women honoree at the Women’s Choice Awards, she is also the recipient of a Women and Media Award from the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press. A lifelong comedy nerd, Jennifer lives in her native Brooklyn with her poet/programmer husband, a 95% full DVR, and an entirely unreasonable number of vintage pulp fiction novels. She’ll happily chat with you about media and democracy, or take prompts for impromptu parody songs, on Facebook, Bluesky, or Bluesky and other social media

Elena Krumova is the Assistant Director and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the QMSS Program. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Columbia University and has several years of experience teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Previously, she has been a Visiting Assistant Professor at the School of Public Policy at Central European University, Budapest and a Post-doctoral fellow at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University.

Cecilia developed Digital Security Handbook for Female Journalists Developed: for Female Journalists: Funded by the African Union and GIZ, this handbook has equipped 300+ female journalism students across 10+ universities with essential digital security skills. Covering 11 key modules, including Digital Safety, Online Harassment, and Misinformation, it strengthens journalistic integrity and resilience against cyber threats.

She also launched “Digital Dada” Podcast: a podcast addressing cyberviolence against minority groups and promoting digital security awareness, reaching over 50,000 listeners across 20+ countries, achieving a 40% engagement rate, and equipping more than 5,000 individuals with practical digital safety strategies. The podcast sparked critical conversations, influenced policy discussions, and contributed to increased online safety awareness for vulnerable communities.

Her acclaimed filmography includes Every Mother’s Son, Juggling Gender, Out at Work, and Passionate Politics: The Life and Work of Charlotte Bunch. Gold has received Guggenheim, Rockefeller, and Fulbright Fellowships, a GLAAD Media Award, and the Tribeca Audience Award, with her films showcased at MOMA, the Whitney, Sundance, Tribeca, and over 150 festivals worldwide.

As a longtime educator at Hunter College (CUNY), she developed pioneering curricula in video production and LGBTQ media studies and directs theJames Aronson Awards for Social Justice Journalism.

Ms. Ichchha Gurung is an accomplished journalist and the President of IAWRT Nepal (International Association of Women in Radio and Television). With over a decade of experience spanning print media, radio, television, and the development sector, she has built a distinguished career at the intersection of media, communication, and social transformation.

A skilled communicator and storyteller, Ms. Gurung is widely recognized for amplifying marginalized voices and shaping narratives that inspire dialogue and drive change. Her work strategically harnesses media as a powerful tool for education, empowerment, and advocacy, contributing to greater gender equity, social awareness, and inclusive development.

Through her leadership and journalism, she continues to champion ethical media practices and strengthen the role of media in advancing social impact at both national and international levels.