Tackling the gender imbalance in the news media

How women and girls are represented in the media has a fundamental impact on the way they see themselves and understand their role in society, and how they are viewed by men. Despite some notable efforts to improve gender equality in reporting, a significant imbalance persists in much news coverage around the world, with the voices of women heard less than those of men, and women more likely to appear as victims rather than experts.

An upcoming report from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will map and analyse the research and initiatives that are addressing these issues, including: * Numbers of women in the newsroom, including leadership positions * Women cited as sources of expertise in news coverage * The representation of women in news content * Coverage of gender policies and gender issues in the media This session will include an overview of the report’s findings, followed by a discussion on the best ways to improve gender representation in the newsroom and news content, and the impact that this can have on the lives of women around the world.