An international report on the position of women in the news media was presented by International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF). Freedom of press is an integral part of any democracy, and women are playing a key role in news media today. According to IWMF, the freedom of press to express its views will become redundant, if women are not allowed to become an important part of collecting and delivering news.
Though there is enough data to show that women do not get sufficient representation as news subjects, but till now there was no study or report that could show the exact status of women in the news-making activities or in the decision-making or ownership structure of their companies.
For the first time ever, IWMF has presented a report that provides comprehensive and accurate data regarding the role and position of women in the new-making process. It is invariably true that news-making involves many individuals. However, there was no reliable data that would reflect the exact involvement of women in the news media. The present report clearly reveals the role played by women in the news-creating process. It also tells who takes key decisions regarding the role of women, and the structure of media companies, with regard to equality of genders within the organization.
The report as generated by the IWMF after a comprehensive research of two years. It is a thorough study on the position and role of women, around the world, in the ownership of news media, publishing, managing, reporting, editing, photojournalism, broadcast production and other media jobs. The research was conducted by 150 researchers, who used a 12-page questionnaire, to interview executives at more than 500 news companies in 59 nations.
More information at this link.
The promotion of gender in my country, the DRC, participates in the process of active participation of men and women in the development initiatives in every sphere of Congolese national life: economic, social, cultural, civil, and political. But its working up is confronted with two major problems: the stereotypes imposed on women in homes, schools and place of work, and high rate of illiteracy among women. To combat this in the DRC, it is necessary to launch radio and television broadcast programs in order to help women introduce themselves to a new way of analyzing and thinking of their own freedoms and rights. This is why my organization located in the east of the DRC seeks to launch a program called “Women in Good Governance Discussion Group” with the aim of mobilizing all girls at school and University to allow them to speak of their discrimination and oppression.
I here ask IWMF to support this important program in the DRC. So please send me any application form or other information so that I may apply.
Wabula Pierre,
DRC