From Outrage to Opportunity: How to Include the Missing Perspectives of Women of All Colors in News Leadership and Coverage
Key Guidance
Inspiring Practice
Gates Foundation (2022), 282 pp.
Contains bibliogr. pp. 265-271
"This independent, solutions-based report, the third in the Missing Perspectives series, focuses on how to break down two fundamental barriers, previously identified, that women face: their underrepresentation and cultural exclusion in news leadership at the top of news organizations/in the highest-profile beats (the subject of Part 1); and their invisibility in news coverage/storytelling (the subject of Part 2)." (Executive summary)
The report at a glance, 10
PART I: NARROWING THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GAP IN NEWS LEADERSHIP IN THE HIGHEST-PROFILE EDITORIAL BEATS. THE PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS 36
Introduction to the problem of women's underrepresentation as decision-makers at the top of news organizations, 39
The importance of intersectionality, 42
1 Gender and racial diversity of top news leaders in organizations today, 43
2 Gender and racial diversity of top editors across high-profile beats, 47
3 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in politics, 50
4 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in health, 53
5 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in economics/business, 56
6 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in foreign affairs desks, 59
7 Beyond representation: the barriers that prevent women - including women of color - from being fully included in decision-making in news, 62
8 Why diversity does not guarantee inclusion: the role of culture, 80
9 Solutions for how to close the diversity and inclusion gap in news leadership in high-profile beats, 86
Trailblazers who are advancing women's inclusion in news leadership, 101
Case studies: The New York Times in the global north -- Mint in the global south -- Bloomberg (global) -- African Women in Media, 102
PART II: HOW TO INCLUDE THE MISSING PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN IN NEWS COVERAGE: REPRESENTATION, STORYTELLING, AND PORTRAYAL. THE PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS, 120
1: The existing but underexplored gender gaps in news coverage, 123
2: The existing systemic, organizational, and individual biases in news coverage, 159
3: Solutions on how to improve women's representation and portrayal in news coverage and their centrality in storytelling. Drivers of positive change and recommended interventions, 177
Trailblazers who are reshaping news coverage of gender issues in the global south and north, 189
Case studies: Khabar Lahariya in India -- Nation Media Group in Kenya -- The Fuller Project in the US - a global remit -- The Guardian's Her Stage, 190
PART III: PROGRESS - EXISTING INITIATIVES AIMING TO REDUCE GENDER INEQUALITY IN NEWS 206
Where are the news initiatives aimed at bringing about change at systemic level? 210
What part of the news value chain do initiatives cluster around? Change at an individual level prevails, 210
What are the observable gaps in gender initiatives in news? 215
PART IV: SOLUTIONS FOR REFRAMING THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND SIZING THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY THAT WOMEN REPRESENT FOR THE NEWS INDUSTRY 217
1: Narratives that are more likely to persuade news leaders to strive for gender and racial equity in newsrooms, news leadership, and news coverage, 220
2: Business case investigation: what would happen if women were as likely as men to consume news? A focus on the newspaper industry, 224
3: Women-sensitive coverage leading to improved business model: Amedia case study, 241
PART 5: PROPOSED STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS, 246
1 Why change needs to be tackled on three levels: systemic, organizational, and individual, 249
2 Why it is critical to measure women's representation by intersecting gender with race, 251
3 Full list of proposed solutions, 252
PART I: NARROWING THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GAP IN NEWS LEADERSHIP IN THE HIGHEST-PROFILE EDITORIAL BEATS. THE PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS 36
Introduction to the problem of women's underrepresentation as decision-makers at the top of news organizations, 39
The importance of intersectionality, 42
1 Gender and racial diversity of top news leaders in organizations today, 43
2 Gender and racial diversity of top editors across high-profile beats, 47
3 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in politics, 50
4 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in health, 53
5 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in economics/business, 56
6 Gender and racial diversity of top editors in foreign affairs desks, 59
7 Beyond representation: the barriers that prevent women - including women of color - from being fully included in decision-making in news, 62
8 Why diversity does not guarantee inclusion: the role of culture, 80
9 Solutions for how to close the diversity and inclusion gap in news leadership in high-profile beats, 86
Trailblazers who are advancing women's inclusion in news leadership, 101
Case studies: The New York Times in the global north -- Mint in the global south -- Bloomberg (global) -- African Women in Media, 102
PART II: HOW TO INCLUDE THE MISSING PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN IN NEWS COVERAGE: REPRESENTATION, STORYTELLING, AND PORTRAYAL. THE PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS, 120
1: The existing but underexplored gender gaps in news coverage, 123
2: The existing systemic, organizational, and individual biases in news coverage, 159
3: Solutions on how to improve women's representation and portrayal in news coverage and their centrality in storytelling. Drivers of positive change and recommended interventions, 177
Trailblazers who are reshaping news coverage of gender issues in the global south and north, 189
Case studies: Khabar Lahariya in India -- Nation Media Group in Kenya -- The Fuller Project in the US - a global remit -- The Guardian's Her Stage, 190
PART III: PROGRESS - EXISTING INITIATIVES AIMING TO REDUCE GENDER INEQUALITY IN NEWS 206
Where are the news initiatives aimed at bringing about change at systemic level? 210
What part of the news value chain do initiatives cluster around? Change at an individual level prevails, 210
What are the observable gaps in gender initiatives in news? 215
PART IV: SOLUTIONS FOR REFRAMING THE NEED FOR CHANGE AND SIZING THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY THAT WOMEN REPRESENT FOR THE NEWS INDUSTRY 217
1: Narratives that are more likely to persuade news leaders to strive for gender and racial equity in newsrooms, news leadership, and news coverage, 220
2: Business case investigation: what would happen if women were as likely as men to consume news? A focus on the newspaper industry, 224
3: Women-sensitive coverage leading to improved business model: Amedia case study, 241
PART 5: PROPOSED STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS, 246
1 Why change needs to be tackled on three levels: systemic, organizational, and individual, 249
2 Why it is critical to measure women's representation by intersecting gender with race, 251
3 Full list of proposed solutions, 252
