Getting the balance right: gender equality in journalism; 2009 - Fokus

(A good check is to ask yourself if you would include the sameinformation about a man.) It is important to know who you want your story to target and tomake sure that a gender balance is respected in the choice of“experts” or witnesses. Strengthen gender-balanced stories bypreparing contact lists of women who are willing to speak andwho are accessible Be sure to give women their own title, name and voice and notthe “wife of Mr. Smith.” Avoid use of descriptions that pander to societal expectationsof women that are inherently limiting (“mother of six”) or inother ways trivialize, diminish, or exploit women. Be careful ofassigning gender roles, which pander to bias. Descriptions suchas “male nurse” and “woman doctor” are inherently sexist whenthey suggest that it is not normal for a woman to be a doctor orthat it is unusual for men to work in a caring profession. Strive to represent both sexes as whole human beings and notlimited to a set of pre-defined characteristics. In widening thedebate as a whole and contributing to raising awareness ofgender equality, it is essential to fight for equal coverage of realissues important to women in your area.16 GENDER EQUALITY IN JOURNALISM