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

PREFACEOne of the greatest challenges facing journalists, both menand women, is to resist the culture of casual stereotype in oureveryday work.That is no easy task when media are full of images and clichéabout women and girls. Many are relatively harmless, but some, oftenthe most powerful, portray women as objects of male attention -- theglamorous sex kitten, the sainted mother, the devious witch, thehard-faced corporate and political climber.In every region and culture there are fixed images, deeplyentrenched prejudices and biased reflexes that pose challenges tojournalists and media. This booklet urges us to do more to confrontthese distortions in our newsrooms and in our unions.In spite of the progress made over the last 25 years—and thereare more women in media and more female executives than everbefore—media still churn out female stereotypes that limit the powerof women in society. According to one global survey, if we continueat the current rate of progress it will take another 75 years to achievegender equality in media.That is a dismal prospect given that it is more than 40 yearssince laws were introduced penalising discrimination against womenand providing for the allocation of basic political and social rights,equal pay and employment rights.But prejudices do not disappear at the dictate of lawmakers.Battles for equality are still being fought in every country. It takesargument, debate, training and practical commitment to confrontdiscrimination wherever it lurks. This booklet provides help. It is auseful addition to the armoury of people within journalism who arefighting discrimination and championing journalistic standards.IVGENDER EQUALITY IN JOURNALISM