Women gain but still lack ‘presence’ in the news
Kathleen Cross, 778.782.3861, cell: 604.868.7568; kcross@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, PAMR, 778.782.3210; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
Despite some gains, women are still significantly underrepresented in news media coverage around the world and including Canada, according to new research by the Global Media Monitoring Project.
Three-quarters (76 per cent) of people heard or read about in the world’s news are male. “The world seen in the news media remains largely a male one,” says SFU communication lecturer Kathleen Cross.
The research project was carried out in 108 countries. Cross led the research on the Canadian media scene and found that 30 per cent of news subjects are female, up from 21 per cent five years ago.
Less than nine per cent of stories had women as a central focus. Knowledgeable experts were predominantly male.
Men were also three times more likely to be found in stories on politics and government as well as celebrities, arts and sports.
Internationally, the GMMP monitored 1,365 newspapers, television and radio stations and Internet news sites, 17,795 news stories and 38,253 persons in the news in 108 countries, representing 82 per cent of the world’s people.
In Canada, media monitored include seven major newspapers, six television and five radio newscasts resulting in 279 stories and 695 persons in the news.
The report Who Makes the News? The Global Media Monitoring Project 2010 was released in Arabic , English, French and Spanish, along with the Canadian National Report and numerous other regional and national reports. Stories on the findings are already appearing in the media in many developing countries.
The 2010 report contains a plan of action for media professionals and others committed to gender-ethical news media.
The GMMP is the largest and longest running research and advocacy initiative on fair and balanced gender representation in the news media. It is coordinated by WACC, a global network of communicators promoting communication for social change, in collaboration with data analyst Media Monitoring Africa, and with support from the United Nations Development Fund for Women.
Full reports/more information: www.whomakesthenews.org
Electronic link to the Canadian report: Canada GMMP Report 2010
Or https://connect.sfu.ca/home/kcross@sfu.ca/Briefcase/GMMP