What Does Data Say About Women’s Reportage in Media?

By Azeezat Olatunde, Doreen Austins, Habeeba Ayomikun, Barakat Lawal and Testimony Olalekan

In 2020, the World Economic Forum revealed an alarming disparity in media representation: despite making up 49.6% of the world’s population, only 24% of news sources globally are women.

This underrepresentation, however, is not limited to news sources and is apparent in newsroom leadership, where women’s presence remains scarce. According to a report released by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in February, only 25.7% of leadership positions in Nigerian newsrooms are occupied by women.

Professor Stella Chinyere Okunna, Africa’s first female professor of Mass Communication and the current Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka says, “Women are as invisible as ever in the newsroom.”

The gender imbalance in media representation has serious implications for published stories, angles explored, and, ultimately, the narratives that shape public discourse. According to the Global Media Monitoring Project, “All things remaining equal, it will take at least 67 years to close the average gender equality gap in traditional media.”

To tackle these challenges, the WSCIJ launched ‘Report Women’ in 2014, an initiative to balance how stories are framed, amplify women’s voices, and address the scarcity and quality of news women produce in the newsroom. This initiative trains female journalists to incorporate a gender-sensitive approach to reporting, ensuring that women’s experiences are included and accurately portrayed rather than being underreported.

On October 3rd, 2024, Report Women celebrated a decade of impactful work, marked by the induction of 86 fellows, the training of 537 reporters, the production of six documentaries, the release of four comprehensive reports, and the empowerment of 2,930 beneficiaries. This event was attended by students and prominent media figures and was chaired by Chief Olusegun Osoba, CFR FNGE, the former governor of Ogun State and a veteran journalist.

In his keynote speech, Osoba emphasised the need for female representation in the media and urged the industry to prioritize women as lead storytellers rather than being sidelined.

As part of its strategic interventions, the WSCIJ launched the ‘Expert Source Guide’, which connects journalists, editors, and media producers to a pool of female experts across various fields, from economics and finance to governance and security.

“This guide dismantles the outdated excuse that there are no qualified women to interview. We have expert women who are competent and willing to speak. The more intentional we are, the more we can change the face and voice of the news to include women,” said Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ. “It’s more than just a directory; it’s a resource fostering a community where stories of resilience and strength can thrive.”
Reflecting on her years of leading Report Women, she mentioned that society has restricted women from exploring their full potential.

“In my career, I have realized that self-censorship is the biggest enemy. Some women believe they can’t do it while battling impostor syndrome and societal limitations. At Report Women, we work to break down these barriers for women to flourish in the media.”

Challenges so far

Mrs Alaka highlighted misconception as one of the challenges faced by Report Women. Many people believe it is a feminist movement, though this misnomer does not accurately reflect their mission.

“When you have a vision, many people interpret it in various ways. We are not a feminist movement. We are a journalism program advocating for ethical, professional journalism that is credible. If journalism is to follow the story, the story cannot just focus on men because the human beings being followed are both female and male,” she clarified.

She also mentioned that while men and women have different sociological and anatomical functions — such as breastfeeding, which only women can do — both genders deserve equal opportunities.

When asked about the vision for Report Women over the next ten years, Mrs Alaka expressed excitement. “We have built an army of women, and this army will only grow into something massive. Its progression will lead to gender equity and the overall development of society.”

Julie McKay, the Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate, commended the efforts of Report Women, stating, “Having a resource where journalists can look up female sources is remarkably important for society. The Report Women project is an incredible effort to give back to society and promote women leaders in the newsroom.”