By Amy Lotz

I have had this million dollar idea for more than decade - at least, I think it is a million dollar idea. If I had more of an entrepreneurial spirit, I might even have cashed in on this by now! So here goes...The ALL Spelling Shows TV channel.

Now before you roll your eyes at me... let me tell you why. It would show all Spelling-related TV shows 24 hours a day. Thank about it! This channel would include both Aaron and Tori Spelling material. (For all we know, Candy Spelling might have a new show in the works herself, and that could be also be included).

By Elizabeth Engel

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Philadelphia Eagles Academy for Women, and it got me thinking about how the NFL markets to women.

A little background: I am a long-time NFL fan. Growing up, Sundays meant church, hoagies from the corner deli, and the Philadelphia Eagles. But my mom was the one who taught me about the game. In college, I spent Sundays in the one all-male dorm on campus to catch the games. I lost touch with my beloved Eagles when I moved out of the broadcast area for grad school. But eventually, the NFL Sunday Ticket saved me, and I was able to re-establish my relationship with the team, even launching Snarkin' the NFL, a blog about the Eagles and the NFL, in 2005.

By Layla Masri

From easy computer access to the "passback effect" (parents passing their mobile devices to the back seat of the car to keep children occupied), children as young as age 3 are preparing to take part in the social-media revolution. The good news and bad news is that children are natural socializers and are rarely shy about sharing all sorts of details. While these traits makes them a perfect fit with the social world, such openness and sharing of personal information and photos can be dangerous for children online.

So, how do you provide social satisfaction to children while keeping them safe? The answer is to create "social-networking lite" options within children's favorite online spaces. Here are five clever ways to engage young audiences safely:

By Sarah Foss

What a change a year makes! During the recession, I, and many other executives, wondered...was it just a slight journey off our golden path? Put another way, would we ever get our mojo back?

By Erin Fuller

Like most of us, I have seen the already-iconic Situation Room photo (below) of our government's leadership during the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound. When I saw it, I immediately flashed to other photos, taken at pivotal times during past administrations. Like this one or this one.

By Debra Puryear

Do's and Don'ts To Advance Your Career in Any Economy

For the Do's:

By Erin Fuller

I usually lay out my clothes the night before (some call it OCD, some call it an inability to make any decision prior to 8:00 a.m.). However, I am getting a head start for tomorrow, April 12th– I will be wearing red. April 12th is Equal Pay Day, or the day that women finally stop earning their salary for 2010, since we make only, on average, 78 cents to every dollar a man does, according to the latest Census statistics. (For women of color, they can save their red for even later in the year, since it is a sad 68% for African American women and 58% for Latinas). We have been hearing about this issue forever, because equality is taking pretty much that long. Why the red? NOW has decreed that, if we are going to be in the red financially for that amount of time, we might as well have a sense of humor about it.

When the Equal Pay Act went into effect in 1963, women made 59 cents to every male dollar – meaning that we have been able to move that needle a whopping 20 cents over nearly four decades, or one-half a penny each year. This is not only wrong, but seriously depressing.

By Lena West

I've decided to step out and say what few people are willing to say: professional women need to approach social media differently than males.

This is not based on some "shrink it and pink it" mentality that I've adopted or a desire to rehash male/female dynamisms. This idea comes from YEARS of working with (for the most part) only women business owners -- and actually BEING a woman business owner myself. Call it generalizing or gender-based stereotypes (or any other politically correct label you want to give it), but women think differently and we LEARN differently. Period. I've seen it every single day for the past 14 years I've been self-employed.

By Erin Fuller

No, no - not basketball, but rather the activity that surrounds the celebration of women's history month.  As president of the Alliance for Women in Media, my dance card fills up with various luncheons, celebrations and teas in March, and it is always exciting to take some time and celebrate important milestones. As a long-time feminist, I appreciate the 31 days of focus on some amazing women in our history.

I am also honored to serve as the Alliance for Women in Media's representative on the Coalition for the National Women's History Museum.  "Where is the NWHM?" you ask?  Well, it is located only here, at www.nwhm.org  – it doesn't exist yet because, despite nearly 15 years of trying, we can't get approval to lease space in downtown D.C. to house the museum's significant collection.  I first started attending coalition meetings back in 2002, and at the meeting I attended a few weeks ago, we laughed in a pained way, as we are now considering trying to get back in the building we were trying to get a decade ago.  There have been several other sites in the interim, always blocked by a Congressional vote (or lack thereof) in either the House or the Senate.

By Erin Fuller

Most of my career has been spent promoting economic advancement and equality for women.  Each March, my calendar is packed with events celebrating women – their accomplishments, heroic acts, and areas for continued advancement.  For 2011 Women's History Month, I thought I would try to remember the key pieces of media that helped shape my world view, as a proud feminist.

1)      Girls Can Be Anything

By Valerie Blackburn

There always seem to be lists about things you do before hitting a milestone. Among many other things: before you hit 25 you should learn how to drive a stick and know to invest in your 401-k. Before hitting 40, everyone should be able to finally travel without over packing and have a great skincare and exercise regime (after all, 50 is right around the corner...) .

So what’s on the checklist for 60? By then I would hope people are working on what their lasting legacy will be, whether it be whatever they leave behind financially or imparting knowledge to others so as not to let it get wasted!

By Kate Niswander

Some associate January with resolutions, others with the back-to-work blues. I, however, look forward to a long-standing friendship that always returns in the first month of every year: the premiere of American Idol.

Yes, I can see the questions forming: Who would subject themselves to thrice (!) weekly telecasts? Who sits through vacuous “results” shows? Who wants to watch normal, everyday people being judged, criticized and heckled? The answers to all these questions, of course, is yours truly - along with 30 million of my closest friends.

By Kate O'Donnell

With 2011 well underway, I am taking stock of what I’ve done in 2010 and what I’d like to see happen this year. I guess I’m no different than most people (especially in January!), but this year I’m taking a broader approach and applying the same metrics to the Alliance for Women in Media.

2010 was quite a year for AWM. First came the new name, then a new president, and a new logo and brand. We moved to a digital format of Making Waves and celebrated The Gracies in Hollywood for the first time. Any one of those things on its own would cause pause for a moment of reflection, but we’re not ones to rest on our laurels—after all, this is the place where women in media promote progress and create change.

By Amy Lotz

One word – okay maybe two…awards shows. I love them. There’s something about seeing the actors and actresses I enjoy watching on TV or in movies suddenly seem more real. (Of course ‘real’ is a relative term here, but let’s say a bit more ‘real’ than usual.)

Now many out there might think award shows are superficial, but I like to think of them as an escape. January and February are my two dreaded months of the year: the holiday fun is behind us, work is starting to pick up, and it is cold. (I grew up in Florida; trust me, I don’t like being cold). So, for me, award shows are an escape and something that I know primarily occurs during those cold winter months. So I escape with Oscar, Grammy, Tony and many more.

By Erin Fuller

My new calendar is up, I have successfully written “2011” on a check, and let’s just say plenty of champagne was used to ring in the new year. My personal resolutions are a total cliché, involving gym attendance, better posture and organization. Since creativity is sadly lacking on that list, I thought I would use some on a list regarding women in media, and our hopes for 2011 and beyond.

1. Build upon an amazing year of interesting roles for women – by demanding even more. From “Kick Ass” to “Black Swan”, the past year brought us complex, funny, troubledn characters and some absolutely riveting performances from a number of women actors last year. People are watching and talking about many of these roles, and it is clear that many of the most interesting and talented actors are demanding parts that showcase a range beyond friend/girlfriend/wife/assistant.