South Africa has made notable progress in terms of gender parity in the news industry, particularly when it comes to women’s representation in senior roles in political, health, and business beats. However, this progress in gender equality often conceals the challenges faced by women journalists in the country.
During a recent webinar organized by Emma Goodman in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Media Partnership team, Luba Kassova discussed the findings from her report on gender and the intersectionality of gender and race in news, entitled From Outrage to Opportunity. In a conversation with Qaanitah Hunter, assistant editor: politics and opinions at News24 in South Africa, they explored the true extent of women’s inclusion in the newsroom and the personal experiences of women journalists, particularly those from marginalized communities.
South Africa stands out as an outlier in the research conducted by Luba Kassova, with almost gender parity observed in the most senior roles in political, health, and business beats. However, Qaanitah Hunter emphasizes that this representation does not automatically translate into true inclusion. While conversations about gender parity have been ingrained in South African society since the country’s democracy was established 30 years ago, there are still significant challenges to overcome.
Despite progress in achieving gender parity in the newsroom and management positions, South Africa faces many other challenges related to gender equality. It is often referred to as the femicide capital of the world, and gender-based violence remains prevalent. This broader environment, with its societal issues, is reflected in the news industry. While women journalists have made significant strides in securing positions in serious beats and political press conferences, true inclusion goes beyond mere representation.
Qaanitah Hunter highlights the separation between news leaders and news managers as one of the challenges faced by women journalists. While corporations are more willing to hire female managers to run newsrooms because of their competence, the appointment of female editors-in-chief is still a rarity. The old adage of women having to work twice as hard to attain half of what their male counterparts achieve is still very much alive within South African newsrooms.
While women journalists may be present in press conferences and other official events, they often face exclusion when it comes to exclusive interviews and significant opportunities. Male journalists tend to dominate these important moments, perpetuating gender imbalances in reporting. Awards also tend to favor male journalists, further highlighting the inequality that women face in the industry.
Qaanitah Hunter discusses her personal experience as a woman journalist in South Africa, highlighting the challenges she faced as a young journalist of color wearing a hijab. Despite being given remarkable opportunities, she encountered instances where male colleagues were favored over her for high-profile stories, demonstrating the ongoing internal and external struggles that women journalists face.
To address these challenges and achieve true inclusion, Qaanitah Hunter suggests several approaches. Firstly, newsrooms need to be intentional in their recruitment efforts, ensuring gender diversity is a priority. Secondly, they should create processes and support systems that consider the unique challenges faced by women, such as safety considerations. Thirdly, gender inclusion conversations should not solely be the responsibility of women; they should be shared collectively across newsrooms. Finally, executives need to understand the financial value of empowering women journalists.
It is clear that while South Africa has made progress in achieving gender parity in the news industry, there are still significant challenges to overcome. True inclusion and equality cannot be achieved by merely having women journalists present in newsrooms; it requires a more nuanced approach that addresses systemic biases and ensures equal opportunities and recognition for women in journalism.
