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A Different Kind Of Media?
In honor of International Women's Day, March 8, UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists are asking media outlets to put women in charge of the news for a week. Last year over 1,000 media outlets agreed to turn editorial control over to women for a day. This initiative recognizes that women need to have leadership positions in order to create a media that is truly free and democratic, that giving women equal power in media affects women (and men and children as well) in society in general. As the UNESCO mission states: "The free flow of independent and pluralistic information can only exist when all talented journalists have an equal chance of becoming editors and media executives."
As women worldwide fight for that equal chance in the newsroom or boardroom, others are building their own media to make their voices heard. Critical questions are being raised: Will women's equal participation change the nature of journalism? Is women's news fundamentally different from men's? Are "women's pages" a pink news ghetto or a needed remedy for historic neglect? Does mainstream women's media have to be apolitical and marketing-driven? MediaChannel affiliates present perspectives and discussions. Please share your thoughts in The Forum.
Part I: Women At The Table: What happens when women breach the bastion?
Part II: A Newsroom Of Her Own: What kind of media do women make for women?
— Elinor Nauen (enauen@aol.com) and Aliza Dichter (liza@mediachannel.org), editors.
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Part I: Women At The Table
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Women In Charge For A Week
"Without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women's perspective at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, development and peace cannot be achieved," states a UNESCO initiative that suggests putting women in charge at their media outlets for a week. It's a start, but long-term changes should be the goal. From UNESCO.
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Media Equity?
Though women make up more than half the world's population, men routinely decide what news they should
hear and read. What is the impact on all of us when the news is constantly reported from a male point of
view? Keep in mind that media leaders are not just leaders in that industry, but have the power to
shape society's attitudes. This report examines the obstacles and challenges women continue to face
and touches on how they might change media in the future.
From International Women's Media Foundation, February 21 2001
More about:
Africa,
Europe,
Latin America & Caribbean,
North America,
Asia and the Pacific,
South America,
Diversity,
Labor,
News Coverage
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Still Pioneers
While the number of women journalists has risen enormously over the past 50 years, said Bettina Peters in a speech to the International Federation of Journalists, they still struggle daily to succeed against stereotypes, conflicting family and career demands, lack of support and more. An IFJ/UNESCO questionnaire should provide a clearer portrait of women in media, asking such questions as: "Has the number of women in decision-making positions in your organization increased in the last ten years?" And, "does a law guaranteeing equal pay for equal work exist in your country?" Results will be presented in June at a conference in support of gender equality. From International Federation of Journalists
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Women At War
Susan Njania-Matetafuka writes on the dangers and difficulties of covering conflict in Rwanda and Angola,
where misconceptions, such as only whites (and men) can be foreign correspondents, or black journalists
must be partisans or spies, are rampant.
From World Assoc. for Christian Comm., September 9 1998
More about:
Angola,
Rwanda,
Africa,
Central Africa,
Southern Africa,
Diversity,
Freedom of Expression,
Labor,
News Coverage
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Mentoring 101
Reporter Bonnie Pfister told a bunch of Texas managing editors that diversifying the newsroom was part of their jobs. She also instructed them on how to go about mentoring women in a nonsexist way. She writes: "Look for talent in those staffers that don't go around singing their own praises. Teach them, correct them, tear their work apart when it needs it. Challenge those writers to do better, and keep your eye on their development, so that they won't be an afterthought the next time a big, complex story explodes or a plum political or investigative slot needs to be filled." From Women's Enews
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Part II: A Newsroom Of Her Own
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What To Know About Women's Media
In this stinging 1991 essay, Dr. Donna Allen describes the eight elements that characterize women-owned
and -run media. For one, news means conflict and violence to men, while to women it's more informational
and cooperative. She also discusses why and when women's news is ignored by the mass media.
From Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press, May 1 1991
More about:
Africa,
Europe,
Latin America & Caribbean,
North America,
Asia and the Pacific,
South America,
Cultural Impacts,
Diversity,
Labor,
Politics
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Women's Pages: Godsend Or Ghetto?
Four participants from Africa, India, the Philippines and the United
States ask if special "women's sections" relegate women's issues to a "pink-collar prison" or
provide extra space for empowerment and information. They suggest that these pages may help women
cope with trying to live up to the challenging and near-universal responsibilities of career and family.
From World Assoc. for Christian Comm., September 9 1998
More about:
India,
Philippines,
United States,
Africa,
North America,
Asia and the Pacific,
Audience,
Cultural Impacts,
Diversity,
Magazines,
Newspapers
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Women Talking
If women are going to change media, the examples of iVillage, Women.com, Cybergrrl and Oxygen may
seem discouraging, as they seem to be more Mademoiselle than Ms. magazine, focusing as they do on
entertainment, horoscopes, sex tips, celebrities, parenting advice and, of course, shopping. But don't
underestimate the online communities that are run by — and the ideas
of — women. Every point of view is being expressed on the Web, and who knows where that will lead?
From Salon.com, August 25 2000
More about:
United States,
North America,
Advertising/Commerce,
Audience,
Business,
Cultural Impacts,
Diversity,
Technology,
Multimedia/Internet
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For Shoppers, By Shoppers
Oxygen, the multimillion-dollar U.S. media empire launched with much fanfare as "by women, for women,"
turned out to be full of stereotypes and counterfeit feminism, says Jane Rosenzweig. Should women
be worried about this or simply insulted? Neither, she says, Oxygen's preoccupation with commerce
makes other concerns beside the point.
From The American Prospect, April 10 2000
More about:
United States,
North America,
Advertising/Commerce,
Cultural Impacts,
Diversity,
Multimedia/Internet,
Television
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Are Women's Rights Un-Islamic?
Write about unequal divorce laws, sex and domestic violence in Iran at your own risk. Reformist editor Shahla Sherkat of Iran's Zanan magazine, which is credited with helping to elect moderate President Mohammad Khatami, faces a prison term and an astronomical fine. While the charge was for attending a conference in Berlin, the underlying cause is her tireless 10 years covering
women's rights. From Women's Enews
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Feminist Publishing In South Africa
Volunteer labor, non-hierarchical collective editing, constructive criticism, encouraging individual growth and
commitment to the political project of challenging unequal gender relations were all part of making it
possible for Agenda, the only collectively produced feminist journal in South Africa, to survive for over a decade.
From Agenda,
More about:
South Africa,
Africa,
Southern Africa,
Activism,
Business,
Politics,
Magazines
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Women's Words Silenced
Sadly, even before the state or community censors them, women censor themselves, finds a series of workshops in
India with 100 female writers. Most of the women mentioned that their families play a part in their writing. Fear
of their disapproval, as well as of loss of reputation, acceptability and audience, are powerful means of
censoring thoughts and ideas.
From World Assoc. for Christian Comm., August 1 2000
More about:
India,
Asia and the Pacific,
South Asia,
Cultural Impacts,
Diversity,
Freedom of Expression
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AS THE MEDIA WATCH THE WORLD, WE WATCH THE
MEDIA.
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