The underrepresentation of diverse perspectives remains a persistent issue in the media, hindering our ability as journalists to reflect on the complexities of our societies and foster a greater understanding among different audiences with our reporting.
Despite the industry's professed commitment to diversity and inclusion, men still dominate news coverage, overshadowing women who constitute only 25% of the people featured in stories, according to the 2020 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP). The report also revealed that women are mostly portrayed as homemakers and are typically interviewed as ordinary sources, offering popular or personal opinions, rather than being recognized as authoritative figures, such as specialists or spokespersons.
This imbalance mirrors broader inequities and can reinforce bias and stereotypes. A lack of representation might inadvertently suggest that women are less capable or less significant than they truly are, thereby reinforcing societal norms that confine them to certain roles and responsibilities.
In response to mounting pressure to address this disparity, recently, media organizations have taken proactive measures to diversify their pool of experts, ensuring more gender-balanced sourcing. The 2020 GMMP report’s findings also indicated that representation is improving. Women now account for 24% of the experts interviewed by news outlets, which is a 5% increase from 2015.
Much of this progress can be attributed to the proliferation of dedicated databases and initiatives worldwide designed to address the gender gap and amplify women’s expertise by providing accessible platforms for their visibility. Joining this collective effort is the European Network of Women Experts (ENWE) – founded in 2020 with the goal of creating a network of European databases of women experts – which is now introducing the Ask Women newsletter.
About “Ask Women”
Ask Women is a free, monthly newsletter that connects journalists and event organizers with women experts by bringing a selection of profiles and contacts directly to their inboxes. Each issue is dedicated to a theme connected to current affairs, presenting accomplished professionals specializing in that area and available for interviews, panel discussions, events and other collaborative opportunities.
The first issue was released this month, ahead of the United Nations’ World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which falls on June 17. It featured a diverse group of scientists, economists, mathematicians and academics from the international politics, geography and physics sectors who focus on environmental changes and related issues such as plant responses, forced human mobility, natural risk factors and conflicts over resource use. The experts were carefully chosen from different European databases that currently comprise the ENWE network. These databases include 100esperte, which encompasses over 400 women experts from Italy; AcademiaNet, a comprehensive repository of over 3,300 women researchers from Europe and beyond; Agenda d’Expertes, a project of the Union of Valencian Journalists, in Spain; and Les Expertes, featuring around 4,000 French and Francophone women experts.
Amplifying diverse expertise for inclusive reporting and equality
By tapping into the rich and diverse expertise showcased in these databases, the Ask Women newsletter serves as a platform to amplify the invaluable contributions women make to their respective fields. It expands the pool of sources available to journalists, which enables them to move beyond the familiar and predictable voices. This not only enhances the quality and depth of their reporting but also ensures a more accurate and nuanced representation of the world.
This newsletter equips us with the resources to challenge stereotypes and existing power dynamics, and bridges the gap in our reporting. It offers an opportunity to redefine the narrative, tell more inclusive stories and contribute to achieve equality, in the media and society at large.
To subscribe to Ask Women, click on the following link: enwe.substack.com.
Cristiana Bedei is a member of the ENWE team.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash.
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