NMG Group Managing Editor Pamela Sittoni (in pink) and Gender Editor Dorcas Muga-Odumbe (fourth right) lead other NMG staff in cutting a cake in celebration of International Women’s Day at Nation Centre, Nairobi, on March 8, 2022.
NMG
Media Source: Nation (Kenya)
Date: 8 March 2024
Women are underrepresented in business and editorial positions within media houses throughout East Africa. Despite significant improvements, we are not there yet, posing challenges to gender equality and representation in society. A recent research report, “The State of Women in Media”, brought to light troubling…
Women are underrepresented in business and editorial positions within media houses throughout East Africa. Despite significant improvements, we are not there yet, posing challenges to gender equality and representation in society. A recent research report, “The State of Women in Media”, brought to light troubling disparities. The study by the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Global Affairs Canada, found that while women constitute a significant portion of the media workforce, they are disproportionately underrepresented in key areas, particularly in editorial leadership and in the creation and dissemination of news stories. “Media houses and academic institutions should promote media research to inform decision-making around business models, audience engagement and content strategies,” argues Professor Nancy Booker, Dean of AKU-GSMC.