WOMEN IN MEDIA BELFAST

Women in Media Belfast’s mission is to amplify women’s voices, and build community.

WIMB TIMELINE…

2019 - Women in Media Belfast was devised over cocktails in the Observatory at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast after identifying need. WIMB is about women working in the media and all those appearing on the media, whatever their background. More voices. More influence. With the central messages to amplify, empower and engage, it was set up as a Limited Company by Amanda Ferguson, Patricia MacBride, and Allison Morris. Alas, the global Covid 19 pandemic that followed brought plans to a screeching halt, but not forever.

2021 - Women in Media Belfast was finally officially launched in February. The first event was an online conference! A series of other covid compliant events, initiatives and competitions took place throughout the year. WIMB’s work was supported by Lagan Investments, Ulster Bank, Further Education NI, Brown O’Connor Communications, Carlin Creative, Wordmagic Ltd, Phoenix Law, Gerry White and Jawbox Gin, Schweppes, Willie Jack, the Belfast Telegraph and others.

2022 - WIMB’s ‘What Girls Want’ event was a great success. Allison left WIMB to concentrate on documentaries. Amanda and Patricia then organised a range of other events including a young reporter competition, as well as continued work with Women’s Aid.

2023 - With support once again from Lagan Investments, the NUJ, U105, the Radio Academy, and a host of others, WIMB’s work continued with a spotlight on equity, disability inclusion, and leading change. WIMB’s first autumn social at the MAC supported by Jawbox Gin, and McConnell’s Whisky was lots of fun and gave young women media workers a chance to share their experiences. WIMB also teamed up with Éadach to support their Women’s Aid festive campaign.

2024 - WIMB’s annual International Women’s Day event, supported by Belfast City Council’s mayor’s office, the NUJ, U105, and Jawbox, was hosted by Niamh Campbell Amanda and Patricia wanted to be a trio so Niamh joined the senior leadership team. In August WIMB was set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) run jointly by Amanda Ferguson, Patricia MacBride and Niamh Campbell with helps from project teams. With each event and initiative organised WIMB CIC welcomes like minded individuals and groups on board. In October WIMB hosted a major media conference in the Great Hall at QUB in collaboration with Dublin based Women on Air, Women in Journalism Scotland, the NUJ, and colleagues from across Ireland and Britain.

2025 - WIMB marked Nollaig na Ban ~ Little Christmas - Weemen’s Wee Yuletide at McConnell’s Distillery and Criterion in north Belfast for a diverse range of media workers and others. The annual IWD event returned to Belfast City Hall, a hugely succesful media training collaboration with Women on Air benefitted a range of women from different sectors, as did ongoing mentoring, academic platforming, and other activities. WIMB’s annual Ireland and Britain media summit rounds off the year and plans are drawn up for workshops, events and training in 2026.

Get in touch with WIMB using this contact form And please remember if you are talking about WIMB online use the hashtags #WIMB and #WIMBelfast

Check out the WIMB events page And sign up to the mailing list.

WHO WE ARE…

WIMB CIC SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Journalist Amanda Ferguson from north Belfast co-founded Women in Media Belfast in 2021. Amanda did her NCTJ approved journalism course Belfast Metropolitan College, Millfield. She is a Belfast-based Ireland editor, and a career long NUJ member Specialising in Northern affairs, all the breaking news of the day, and politics, she also enjoys human interest stories, features, arts, business, travel and hospitality.

For nearly 16 years she has been working as a self employed writer, and broadcaster, for local, national and international media outlets, including Reuters news agency since 2015, and The Washington Post since 2018. She is often found popping up on the BBC, RTÉ, LBC, Sky, and a long list of other broadcasters, newspapers, and digital platforms.

Amanda is an in demand podcast guest, event host, and festival panellist. She has been the recipient of a number of industry accolades, including the Martin O’Hagan Memorial Bursary, and in more recent years serves as a media awards judge. Outside of her media work she completed an SCI fellowship and is chair of the Give Inc Women’s Fund. You can find her on most social media platforms, and her website is amanda.ie

Patricia Mac Bride from Co Derry co-founded Women in Media Belfast in 2021. Patricia started her media career at the Ballymena Guardian after graduating from the NCTJ Professional Qualification in Journalism at the College of Business Studies in Belfast. She then moved to the USA and contributed to a number of American and Irish American publications.

On her return to Ireland, Patricia worked in media relations and public affairs on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. She then established her own PR company where clients included World Championship sports events, State agencies and local businesses. She is a past recipient of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland Award for Excellence.

Patricia has been a regular contributor to media in Ireland and overseas providing analysis on political affairs, human rights and legal issues.

Niamh Campbell (aka Niamh Costello) from Co Tyrone joined the Women in Media Belfast Community Interest Company senior leadership team in 2024. She currently a full-time journalist for The Belfast Telegraph, covering everything from breaking news to sports and politics, as well as writing features and hosting podcasts.

Niamh has an undergraduate degree in Linguistics & Literature from Queen’s University Belfast, but found her true calling when she studied journalism at Ulster University. She has previously worked for BBC News and BBC Sport NI, and is particularly interested in covering mental health issues, social injustices in Northern Ireland, and stories regarding women in sport.

Check out Niamh online: https://linktr.ee/niamhcam94

WOMEN IN MEDIA BELFAST