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As you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news media
As you consider the output of the coverage you watch over the next few days related to the remaining primaries and their results in the Democratic presidential nominee race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, keep in mind this lengthy list of data and statistics that show how poorly the news media reflects the female population – especially among the gatekeepers.
Three of my favorites:
- In newspapers, 38 percent of journalists working in daily newspapers are women; 65 percent of all supervisors are men.
American Society of Newspaper Editors, 2006 census
http://www.asne.org/index.cfm?id=6506 - Women who enter newsrooms are leaving prematurely. In 1992, nearly 42 percent of journalists with five to nine years of experience were female. Ten years later, that group was only 26 percent female. As of 2002, more than half (54 percent) of women in newsrooms have fewer than five years experience.
The American Journalist in the 21st Century.
- Only 3 percent of clout positions in mainstream media are held by women.
“The Glass Ceiling Persists,” Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2003.
There are 25 more where that came from.
Cross-posted at Redblueamerica.com.
18 Responses to “As you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news media”
How many gatekeepers are black?
Excellent question. Or POC for that matter, esp. WOC. The Plain Dealer isn't bad for diversity but the gatekeepers – that's where to look re: who makes the decisions. And I know you are onto it – it's been more than two years since I've sat in at PD editorial meetings (as a public guest) so I don't know if it's changed. Phillip Morris is excellent (IMO) even though I don't always agree with him – he was on the editorial board.
And let me ask you THIS: in some ways, do you think it's even more important to have POC reporting and gatekeeping news in smaller less diverse areas, since they're the ones that might most need exposure? OR – is it a matter of accurate representation? Or both?
[...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on As you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news mediaHere’s a quick excerptAs you watch primary coverage, remember: few women gatekeep in news media April 21st, 2008 by JILL MILLER ZIMON As you consider the output of the coverage you watch over the next few days related to the remaining primaries and their results in the Democratic presidential nominee race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, keep in mind this lengthy list of data and statistics that show how poorly the news media reflects the female population – especially among the gatekeepers. Three of m [...]
I'm not really sure how to answer that question. I think that the lack of diversity in the news media is more of a reflection of larger society than a special indictment of the media and its coverage.
The question of white women as gatekeepers in the media is a little different, since at least statistically they graduate from college in high numbers. There probably is a bit of latent sexism and nepotism involved the fact that they don't run at least some news rooms around the country.
Or right of well-to-the-left “center” [sic]? Oops, that offends the myths beheld by those who deny reality.
JMZ: Pew has issued a number of reports about the concerns in journalism today.
The best are these:
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?Re…
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?Re…
ChrisWWW – you wrote –
“I'm not really sure how to answer that question. I think that the lack of diversity in the news media is more of a reflection of larger society than a special indictment of the media and its coverage.”
That's interesting – I was at Women, Action and the Media in Cambridge at the end of March this year and I believe while the larger society definitely can be indicted – I'm part of it, I've learned and am learning – media and its coverage doesn't and shouldn't get a pass. But I see what you're saying as maybe putting it in a larger context?
DLS – thanks. Some Pew resources are on that list.
I have more questions than theories about women in journalism.
For example:
What role does the competitive process have in wormen leaving?
Do some feel compelled to be cut-throat aggressive in ways that doesn't suit? Do some overcompensate and fail to work well with staff?
The financial pressures on newspapers today would make the atmosphere more tense, I would think, making minor factors about the psychology of women (the alien apecies) more pronounced.
The same stress might be making executives more leery of taking the perceived rish of hiring non traditional types.
Journalism, like health care, is an area where market forces work very badly
Interesting questions – I don't know the answers.
I would however probe you further about your comment re: the psychology of women/the alien species – I am clueless re: what you're referencing there – help?
JMZ -
I'm just always curioues about the 'why', because the explaantion is seldom as simple (prejudice, etxc) as it seems as first blush. Even when the obvious explanation is true, the auxilliary factors can be darn ineresting.
Women have to get through that ''woman journalist' stage before becoming just a journalist. I was curious about how they do that, and what it is that helps them or impedes them., waht mistakes they make, and what mistakes are made in regard to them.
I've been in 'man's world' situations as the lone woman, and I found it very hard to be natural, because I was so aware that the others were listiening to and reacting to a woman speaking, not just a person speaking. I've seen some older men just sit there with mouths hanging open, in shock, btw.
Don't mind me, I just became interested in a broader topic.
Hi Runasim – Oh, I totally agree with you, esp. in the last graph. Over the last few years, I've been in more and more situations where i'm the only woman in the room and the rest are older white men. And I know exactly what you mean – expectations of me being cognizant of my place or something – token, lucky – whatever.
I believe part of the trick is not only to just ignore that inner voice saying that, but to absolutely fight and leap the hurdle over it. If they don't care that they are using me, then I'm not going to care that I'm telling them what I think.
Anyway – that's how I've been trying to combat it, and in general, it's been very successful, for me. But it also depends on what you're trying to accompish and who the audience is.
I'd love to know more about you!
JMZ-
Good advice. I also found that it's best to just pretend the reaction to my femaleness isn't there- until someone steps on my foot, and then I reaxt.
However, I've also met women who are unnecessarily abrasive or psudo-macho by way of overcompensating for the unease.
You don't want to know about me. I'm an old (69+) curmudgeon still trying to figure out how the world works. Reflecting on my past very varied experiences and trying to relate them to what I read and hear from others is an endless source of learning and wonderment. (sometimes horror). .
No one uses the cliche “battle of sexes” anymore although the gender scenario hasn't changed as it should have. Jill you may like to have a look at women journalism scenario a decade ago… http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3677/is…
Interestingly, in India young women are making dramatic inroads into the mainstream, as well as regional, media. And should make it to the top in large numbers soon. They are professionally competent and less likely to fall prey to the mechanisations of unethical and unprofessional influences that threaten media freedom and objective reporting/writing. Also, they are less menacing…
As a male journalist who saw my women colleagues struggle hard until a decade ago, I can say with confidence that India, and some other countries in the Indian subcontinent, would soon emerge as an ideal place for women journalists to work in.
Have a look at the interesting dimension to this discussion…. http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1442
But nothing comes on a platter. Victory won after a hard struggle is sweet, according to an old saying. Just for nostalgia visit this site…… http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrag…
Swaraaj
http://www.themoderatevoice.com/author/swaraaj
I just read your comment here on TMV and have some thoughts for you.
First, you may be right about the “gatekeepers” in the media being male dominated, but the stat you used to back up that assertion, shows a fairly balanced and proportional management number.
Second, the total number of journalists seems to be declining in general so why should women stick around any more than men in a field that just this past weekend was catagorized as one of the top dead end professions?
Third, being a victim is certainly not a positive attribute that leads to leadership and management roles. Neither is using poor statistics so prove a point…
Perhaps young people, of any/all genders, should strive to get beyond the victim role and base their progress on superior performance, hard work and tenacity.
Runasim – you are EXACTLY the sort of person we learn from. Do not kid yourself for a minute.
Swaraaj – it's maybe not so coincidental that you mention how well women in India are doing in journalism. I can't recall where I read about that, but I know that I did within the last few weeks – maybe from Women's eNews? I don't recall but yes, I've heard about that!
Thank you for the great links. South Korea is another interesting example and I met a woman in Journalism from Cameroon whose story shows how the passion to get the truth out has little to do with location.
akaTheHammer – well – there are 28 stats to choose from via that one source – I was just listing three.
Don't believe everything you read – journalism as a dead-end profession? Why? Because the people left with the power are…all male? Nah. Not buying it. The passion for the profession drives the effort, not just whether someone's predicting, for the umpteenth time that it's dead.
You have intimated that you see me as a victim. But I've said no such thing.
Stating the facts about how someone is treated isn't the same as that person believing that they are a victim. I don't see it as being in an enviable position, but the last word I'd use to describe myself, when it comes to trying to make an impact or use journalism as a way to express opinion or provide information, is as a victim.
I'm not a young person so I don't know if you're talking to me or not but you know, if you want to make a direct criticism, you should feel free to do so. Of me, or young people.
The three factoids that you presented simply do not support your argument. I didn't read any more because, in this fast paced world you make your point or not. I think, for a sympathetic audience, you may have made a point, for an objective one you didn't.
I don't believe everything I read – I am much to old for that. The facts are simply that as layoffs proceed in journalism, people will leave the industry, just like any other industry. Journalists, both women and men, are not immune from economic reality. And that is a significant factor in the stats you used.
I agree with you stating facts is not necessarily the same as victimization. The language used in the presentation carries implications. Implications, in this case, point to victimization. If you are preaching to the choir, readers will likely agree with you, with comments that make you feel good. Others will not. And the case you made here on TMV implied that women were being victimized. Yep, it did.
I, too am not a young person – not even close.I thought my criticism direct. Let me rephrase it – the piece was whiny, inadequately supported, poorly written and victimizing of women. It was a good example of what we often see in both the MSM and Blogville – about a C- level of intellectual effort trying to pass as something more. Is that succinct enough?
There are certainly gender issues in the campaign. There may even be issues with female reporters and managers in the campaign, but your case for it was incredibly weak. There are also race issues. If one is comparing the stats about women to make a case, one really needs to address the race issue as well. You didn't. And race may be a far more significant issue in today's election and likely in the national election than gender.