From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, we see the same patterns of under-representation and stereotyped portrayal of women in the news. The reason for these patterns is complicated. From the story angle and the choice of interview questions to the use of language and the choice of images; all these have a bearing on the messages that emerge in the news. These patterns are deeply rooted not only in professional practice, but in wider social assumptions about female and male attributes, roles and competencies.
Anna Turley
They are more likely to be found in what is referred to as the soft end of the news spectrum, celebrity stories, social and legal issues. They are much less present in the politics and economics stories which of course make up the bulk of the news agenda.
legal politics stories present end news economics found issues celebrity social
What we see is that the number of women below the age of 35 in television is far greater. Interestingly, past the age of 35 we see far more men reporting the news than women. That of course suggests that appearance and age are a criteria for women journalists and not for men.
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I think that is one possible conclusion but global data shows that in stories reported by women, there is a greater chance that there will be more women news subjects in those stories.
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What we see in news subjects is that whilst women make up 52 percent of the world's population, they make up only 21 percent of news subjects.
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women choice language reason practice story questions news patterns interview female male assumptions social complicated images
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