Global Media Monitoring Project 2010

This 4th Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) Report summarises research in 108 countries conducted to document trends in the portrayal and representation of women and men in news media discourse and imagery. Every 5 years since 1995, the GMMP has documented trends in the portrayal and representation of women and men in news media discourse and imagery. GMMP is coordinated by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), a global network of communicators promoting communication for social change, in collaboration with data analyst Media Monitoring Africa, and with support from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

For this report, the GMMP monitored: 1,365 newspapers, television, and radio stations and internet news sites; 17,795 news stories; and 38,253 persons in the news in 108 countries with 82% of the world's people. Selected findings include:

• 24% of people heard or read about in the world's news are female, compared to 17% in 1995. 44% of persons providing popular opinion in news stories are female, compared to 34% in 2005.
• News media show significant gender bias, with 46% of news stories reinforcing gender stereotypes.
• 13% of news stories focus centrally on women.
• Expert commentary is overwhelmingly male, with only one female in every five experts.
• The age of women in the news is mentioned twice as often and family status almost four times as often as for men.
• Today, female reporters are responsible for 37% of stories, compared to 28% fifteen years ago, and their stories challenge gender stereotypes twice as often as stories by male reporters.
• Gender bias in internet news is similar and in some respects even more intense than that found in the traditional news media.

The report contains a plan of action for media professionals and others committed to gender-ethical news media. Here is an excerpt:

1. "Compile and promote the use of regional directories of Women Experts. Specific actions:
   • Create a regional on-line and print version of the directory of women experts covering diverse thematic areas.
   • Partner with existing networks and contacts in the region to develop the directory.
   • Distribute the directory to media in order to increase the presence of women as sources in the news...
2. Create 'gender and media' curricula and modules in schools, journalism training institutes and centres
3. Equip managers and instructors with skills to apply the modules to train gender sensitive media professionals
4. Train media owners, publishing directors, director generals of radio and television, chief editors, programme directors, producers and animators on gender issues and gender-balanced reporting...
5. Adopt and apply policies on gender parity in media
• Encourage adoption and application of policies on gender parity. Rectify gaps
• Act to strengthen policy implementation systems favourable to media development and promotion of gender responsiveness and gender equality in the media
6. Promote women's leadership in media
   • Encourage training and re-training of women media professionals
   • Support the creation of news agencies which originate in women's networks and organizations for new practices in the media portrayal and representation of women to emerge..."