"Today, a variety of gender-based threats and discrimination continue to characterize journalism. Both male and female journalists are prone to online and offline threats, casual stereotypes in their routine work, and discrimination (especially in terms of job opportunities, promotion, and pay-scale
...
). Working in a safe and non-discriminatory environment is the right of all journalists, regardless of their gender. The Handbook of Research on Discrimination, Gender Disparity, and Safety Risks in Journalism is a critical reference book that highlights equal rights in journalism to ensure the safety of women and men. The book investigates the level and nature of threats, both online and offline, faced by journalists as well as gender discrimination in journalism. Best practices and examples that can promote a safe working environment and gender equality in journalism are also presented. Highlighting important themes such as online harassment, sexism, and gender-based violence, this book is ideal for journalists, reporters, media organizations, professionals, researchers, academicians, and students working or studying in the fields of journalism, media and communications, human rights, and women's studies." (Publisher description)
more
"Female journalists make up only between five to 10 percent of the total journalists in Indonesia. Consequently, this often gives women little bargaining power in the workplace. This research analyzes the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment experienced by Indonesian female journalists, as wel
...
l as their coping techniques. In doing so, in-depth interviews with 10 Indonesian female journalists were conducted. Results show that the majority of respondents have encountered some type of sexual harassment, ranging from unwelcome sexual advances, sexual jokes, offensive flirtations, or actual sexual assaults. Based on the in-depth interviews, there were six main coping techniques used by the respondents: 1. Denial; 2. Ignoring the harassment; 3. Relying on the protection of male coworkers; 4. Appearing more masculine; 5. Being friendly and approachable to others; and, 6. Confronting and reporting. Data is analyzed using a feminist perspective, specifically the sociocultural theory. Though the participants in this study have learned to cope with such treatment, the overall persistence of sexual harassment may lead to such negative implications as further decrease of the number of female journalists, lack of diversity in the media, and the inability for journalists to be watchdogs." (Abstract)
more
"Comparing Gender and Media Equality across the Globe addresses longstanding questions in the study of gender equality in media content and media organisations across countries and over time. Drawing on data from the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIG
...
E), and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), this book offers new insights into the qualities, causes, and consequences of gender equality in and through the news media. The book contributes to the critical discussion on gender and journalism, showing that the news media do not reflect reality when it comes to the actual progress of gender equality in societies across the globe. The study aims to inspire future research by making existing data on gender and news media equality available to the global research community. The book presents the GEM-dataset, comprising hundreds of indicators on media and gender equality, and the GEM-Index, an easy to use measure to keep track of key aspects of gender equality in television, radio, newspapers, and online." (Publisher description)
more
"Corrupt practices, political financing and institutionalised patriarchal systems have seen the media fail to provide equitable coverage of women’s issues or indeed include women as decision-makers organisationally. Both the audience and media stakeholders are acutely aware of the lack of ethical
...
practice by the media and both are attuned to how this has become gendered in prevailing conditions of economic failure, conflict and weak governance in Iraq. The overall mood was one of pessimism from all stakeholder groups about the current state of and prospects for the media in Iraq. The lack of opportunity in a non-meritocratic society such as Iraq both generates and sustains the prevalence of highly gendered policies and practices across the Iraqi media landscape. This is seen in both stakeholder groups: media stakeholders were likely to disparage their female colleagues; audiences were likely to reject female depictions that they felt were not representative of all Iraqis. Traditional and religious attitudes dominated much of the discussions and many of the challenges facing women and women journalists were attributed to these fixed mind-sets. Again, both stakeholder groups were in agreement that employment rituals and practices were shaped by patriarchal perceptions of a women’s role in traditional societies." (Conclusions)
more
"In-depth interviews with 75 female journalists who work or have worked in Germany, India, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America reveal that they face rampant online gendered harassment that influences how they do their jobs. Many of the women report that if they aim to engage
...
with their audience online – which is a job requirement for many of them – they frequently face sexist comments that criticize, attack, marginalize, stereotype, or threaten them based on their gender or sexuality. Often, criticism of their work is framed as misogynistic attacks and, sometimes, even involves sexual violence. The journalists have developed a variety of strategies for dealing with the abuse, including limiting what they post online, changing what stories they report on, and using technological tools to prevent people from posting offensive words on the journalists’ public social media pages. Results show that this harassment disrupts the routinized practice of reciprocal journalism because it limits how much these women can interact with the audience in mutually beneficial ways without being attacked or undermined sexually. While experiences of harassment were consistent across the countries studied, cultural differences were evident in how much the journalists were expected to engage online. Results are discussed in relation to the hierarchy of influences model that aims to explain how multiple forces influence media content." (Abstract)
more
"The range of actions that social partners and audiovisual stakeholders can take to improve gender equality and diversity is broad. From ambitious strategies and plans to smaller-scale initiatives that have a direct impact on the organisation of work. The good practices presented in this report have
...
proven their efficiency. The lessons learned from their implementation can serve as inspiration, if not reference, in other national contexts. The high value of the regular production of statistics and qualitative analyses of the levels of representation of women and other under-represented groups on screens and in the audiovisual workforce has been demonstrated. It is particularly important to monitor developments and assess the impact of actions. Social partners and sector stakeholders, with the support of public institutions, have a joint interest to work together towards a more systematic approach to the collection of European-level gender data. Specific tools and funds also need to be made available to audiovisual stakeholders to help them implement concrete initiatives that promote equality and diversity in their workplaces, on sets and in studios, and in relation to their audiences." (Conclusions, page 69)
more
"L’éventail des actions que les partenaires sociaux et les autres acteurs du secteur peuvent mettre en oeuvre pour promouvoir l’égalité des sexes et la diversité est vaste. Il couvre aussi bien des stratégies coordonnées et à long terme que des actions à plus petite échelle qui ont un i
...
mpact direct sur l’organisation du travail. Les bonnes pratiques présentées dans cette publication ont prouvé leur efficacité. Les enseignements tirés de leur mise en oeuvre peuvent servir d’inspiration, voire de référence, dans d’autres contextes nationaux. La production régulière de statistiques et d’analyses qualitatives sur les niveaux de représentation des femmes et d’autres groupes sous-représentés à l’écran et dans les effectifs de l’audiovisuel est des plus importantes. Elle est particulièrement nécessaire afin de suivre les évolutions et d’évaluer l’impact des actions entreprises. Les partenaires sociaux et les autres acteurs du secteur, avec le soutien des institutions publiques, ont un intérêt commun à travailler ensemble à une approche plus systématique de la collecte de données sur le genre dans le secteur audiovisuel au niveau européen. Des outils et des fonds spécifiques doivent également être mis à la disposition des acteurs de l’audiovisuel pour les aider à mettre en oeuvre des initiatives concrètes qui favorisent l’égalité et la diversité sur les lieux de travail, sur les plateaux et dans les studios, et en relations avec le public. Promouvoir l’égalité des chances entre les femmes et les hommes et soutenir une plus large inclusion de profils divers dans les effectifs de l’audiovisuel et sur les écrans sont des actions primordiales aux valeurs européennes. Il y a un intérêt créatif, sociétal et économique à ce que le secteur audiovisuel reflète mieux les réalités de sociétés diverses et changeantes." (Conclusions et perspectives)
more
"Das Spektrum der Maßnahmen, die Sozialpartner und Interessenvertreter des audiovisuellen Sektors ergreifen können, um die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter und die Vielfalt zu verbessern, ist breit. Von ehrgeizigen Strategien und Plänen bis hin zu kleineren Initiativen, die sich direkt auf die Arb
...
eitsorganisation auswirken. Die in diesem Bericht vorgestellten bewährten Praktiken haben ihre Wirksamkeit bewiesen. Die aus ihrer Umsetzung gewonnenen Erkenntnisse können als Inspiration und auch als Referenz in anderen nationalen Kontexten dienen. Der große Wert der regelmäßigen Erstellung von Statistiken und qualitativen Analysen über den Vertretungsgrad von Frauen und anderen unterrepräsentierten Gruppen auf Bildschirmen und in der audiovisuellen Belegschaft hat sich gezeigt. Es ist besonders wichtig, die Entwicklungen zu überwachen und die Auswirkungen der Maßnahmen zu bewerten. Die Sozialpartner und Interessenvertreter des Sektors haben mit Unterstützung öffentlicher Einrichtungen ein gemeinsames Interesse daran, zusammen auf einen systematischeren Ansatz für die Erhebung geschlechtsspezifischer Daten auf europäischer Ebene hinzuarbeiten." (Schlussfolgerungen, Seite 78)
more
"Las buenas prácticas presentadas en este informe han demostrado su eficacia. Las enseñanzas extraídas de su aplicación pueden servir de inspiración, si no de referencia, en otros contextos nacionales. Se ha demostrado el alto valor de la producción periódica de estadísticas y análisis cual
...
itativos de los niveles de representación de las mujeres y otros grupos infrarrepresentados en las pantallas y en el personal del sector audiovisual. Es particularmente importante hacer un seguimiento de los acontecimientos y evaluar el impacto de las medidas adoptadas. Los interlocutores sociales y las partes interesadas del sector, con el apoyo de las instituciones públicas, tienen un interés común en trabajar juntos para lograr un enfoque más sistemático de la recopilación de datos sobre el género a nivel europeo. También es necesario poner a disposición de los interesados del sector audiovisual instrumentos y fondos específicos para ayudarles a poner en práctica iniciativas concretas que promuevan la igualdad y la diversidad en sus lugares de trabajo, en los platós y en los estudios, y en relación con sus audiencias." (Conclusiones)
more
"To attain gender equality as a long-term objective, a multi-layered strategy and action is required. In that process, media are a part of the problem, as well as they are a part of the solution. While it has been well established that media organizations can play an influential role in contributing
...
to transformation and change in society, they also reflect the forms and patterns of prevailing societal values. In brief, by supporting media, USAID can further the implementation of gender-specific objectives through a dual-track approach that focuses on (1) improving the enabling environment for female journalists; and (2) facilitating production and dissemination of gender-sensitive content implemented through “media for development” and/or “media development” program strategies." (Recommendation, page 19)
more
"This report identifies five major challenges for developing national plans for safety of journalists and how stakeholders are tackling them. The points addressed concern gaining engagement around safety of journalists by state actors, uniting and focusing efforts of disparate stakeholders into a du
...
rable, well-anchored structure, increasing commitment to security and protection by the media sector, integrating a gender perspective throughout safety mechanisms and supporting stronger tools for combating impunity. In the face of increasing threats that journalists encounter from state and non-state actors, collaborative efforts are making headway to improving safety." (Back cover)
more
"In this RISJ factsheet we analyse the gender break-down of top editors in a strategic sample of 200 major online and offline news outlets in ten different markets across four continents. Looking at a sample of ten top online news outlets and ten top offline news outlets in each of these ten markets
...
, we find: Only 23% of the top editors across the 200 major outlets in our sample are women, despite the fact that, on average, 40% of journalists in the ten markets are women; Every single market covered has a majority of men among the top editors, including countries like Brazil and Finland where women outnumber men among working journalists; The percentage of women in top editorial positions varies significantly from market to market. In Japan, none of the major news outlets in our sample have a woman as their top editor. In South Africa, 47% of the top editors are women; When we compare the percentage of women working in journalism with the percentage of women in top editorial positions, we find a strong and positive correlation. Despite this, in nine out of ten markets, there are considerably more women working as journalists than there are women among the top editors; Looking more broadly at gender inequality in society and the percentage of women in top editorial positions, we find no meaningful correlation. Countries like Germany and South Korea that score well on the UN Gender Inequality Index have very few women among the top editors." (Key findings)
more
"Based on interviews with 18 managers (8 female, 10 male) of media outlets in 12 countries, the research findings show that there is a wide range of motivations for media managers to promote gender equality in the workplace. The main argument used is the fact that the managers believe in gender equa
...
lity and want to set an example to promote gender equality in society. Furthermore, business motives play a role, as well as personal reasons. The argument of the ‘business case for gender equality’, arguing that promoting gender equality in the workplace is good for business is regularly used to convince media outlets of the importance of gender equality in their organisation. This research shows that in encouraging managers of media outlets to promote gender equality, the business argument might work, but other angles should be used as well [...] Success factors to promote gender equality identified in this research include: Commitment and clear communication by management; Employing a flexible approach, adapting to the local context and culture; Institutionalizing the efforts through for example a gender policy; Using guidelines and measures to guarantee safety of female journalists; Implementing accountability mechanisms to constantly monitor progress." (Executive summary)
more
"Since 2016, Fojo Media Institute, together with local partners, has investigated media landscapes in Eastern Europe from a gender perspective, to find out how women and men in the industry perceive their work life: What are their options to have influence and a fulfilling career? What are the diffe
...
rences in beats and job satisfaction between male and female journalists? Is sexual harassment a concern that inflicts on professional practise? First out in the series of gender studies was Russia (2016), followed by Belarus (2017) and Moldova and Georgia (2018). In this report (2020) two more countries are included, namely Armenia and Ukraine. More than one thousand media professionals have shared their views and experiences and contributed to the research [...] One profession that has changed its gender profile is journalism. What was once a male dominated arena has gradually become more gender equal in numbers. The findings of this study indicate that women now make up the majority of media professionals in all the countries covered by this study. According to the experts interviewed, this is not the result of a growing sector with more women coming in, but rather about an outflow of men. The journalistic profession has become less attractive (to men) due to economic restraints (lower wages) and political pressures that make it harder to exercise independent journalism. The study also confirms that women are taking on more decision-making roles, especially in regional and independent media. In Georgia and Moldova, women and men seem to be on equal footing. However, there is still a considerable gender gap in Armenia and Russia, especially when it comes to distribution of power in national media with high circulation/audience, likely related to the fact that the most influential media are still often managed by men. In addition, imbalance in job security and remuneration can be noted, where men have more stable terms of employment and are engaged in beats that pay more. Sexual harassment is another area of interest related to working conditions in the media industry (and elsewhere)." (Preface)
more
"Our inclusion survey, conducted with 35 private media outlets operating in Yangon and in seven ethnic states and five regions, provides up-to-date inclusion and gender data about the sector. Among the findings: while many women work in media (they represent 33% of the combined staff of the 35 outle
...
ts surveyed), they are underrepresented in key roles, including senior leadership and frontline journalistic jobs. Medium-sized ethnic media outlets employ the largest percentage of women, followed by small-sized national media. Small and medium-sized media in Myanmar’s regions employ the smallest percentage of women. The percentage of women employed generally decreases as the roles increase in seniority. In terms of remuneration: outlets led by men generally pay men more than women, whereas outlets with mixed - men, women and/or non-binary - leadership tend to have more gender-balanced salaries. The primary justification offered for higher pay levels for men is that men often have more experience than their women or non-binary counterparts. The survey also confirms that levels of diversity among staff with regards to disability, LGBT+, ethnicity, religious belief, and age vary widely among media outlets. Survey respondents noted a total of 10 non-binary staff members (1% of the total); one outlet in the ethnic states is co-led by a man and a non-binary person. The survey finds, too, that most outlets do not have inclusion policies or plans."
more
"This report presents a snapshot of the first substantial findings from a global survey about online violence against women journalists conducted by UNESCO and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in late 2020. Over 900 validated participants from 125 countries completed the survey in Ara
...
bic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The findings shared here reflect the input of the 714 respondents identifying as women. 73% of women respondents said they had experienced online violence. Threats of physical (25%) and sexual violence (18%) plagued the women journalists surveyed. And these threats radiated - 13% said they had received threats of violence against those close to them. 20% of women respondents said they had been attacked or abused offline in connection with online violence they had experienced. 13% increased their physical security in response to online violence and 4% said that they had missed work due to concerns about the attacks jumping offline. The mental health impacts of online violence were the most frequently identified (26%) consequence. 12% of respondents said they had sought medical or psychological help due to the effects of online violence. The story theme most often identified in association with increased attacks was gender (47%), followed by politics and elections (44%), and human rights and social policy (31%). 41% of the respondents to this survey said they had been targeted in online attacks that appeared to be linked to orchestrated disinformation campaigns. Political actors are the second most frequently noted sources (37%) of attacks and abuse after, anonymous or unknown attackers (57%), according to the women respondents." (Introduction)
more
"This rapid literature review explores the role that media in the Western Balkans plays in issues of gender (in)equality. The countries discussed are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia [...] While there is a body of literature that discusses a
...
ccess of men and women to media spaces (e.g. airtime and news headlines) and moreover media portrayals of gender groups within the region, there is very limited research on barriers to gender equality within the media sector itself and on media initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality. As such, the barriers section in this report also draws on discussion of gender equality in the region generally; and on issues with the media in the region generally. There are implicit linkages that can be made, however. For example, the persistence of gender inequality and traditional patriarchy throughout the region influences how the media operates and in turn is reflected in the media ..." (Summary, page 2)
more
"Findings from the survey revealed that the Report Women FRLP has achieved its goal exceptionally. It equipped the fellows with knowledge and capability for leadership with evidence of increased visibility for the fellows as leaders in their newsrooms. It opened opportunities for personal and profes
...
sional development and changed news organisations’ perception about female leadership and the representation of the voice of women as leaders in news reports. It accrued over 1,200 direct and indirect beneficiaries. WSCIJ was convinced about the capacity of the Report women programme to be a game-changer when we started in 2014. This report proves that increased participation of female reporters who are well-trained as leaders with passion and knowledge for reporting girls and women issues correctly can engender a socially just world if we all commit to sustaining the engagement." (Executive summary)
more
"In this study, 30 women journalists from local media organizations based in various cities in Turkey described the problems they experienced in local media and the obstacles standing in the way of women who want to perform better in their career. Interviews with these journalists reveal that, in ce
...
rtain aspects, women in local media have similar experiences of working conditions; however, in other issues, their stories are rather different from each other. According to an overall evaluation of the research findings, one of the main conclusions is that women journalists in local news outlets are subjected to gender-based obstacles and discrimination in their work, and the specific working conditions in these organizations effectively result in gender inequality." (Conclusion and recommendations, page 38)
more