Women In Journalism

When I had my interview for Westminster I was asked if I thought it was necessary to still have Women's Hour on Radio 4.

In an ideal world, I replied, there would be no need for programming dedicated to expressing the experience of just one gender. But until we get to that point, yes, I think it is very necessary that Women's Hour and media like it exist.

Similarly the group Women In Journalism seems crucial to me also.

Working to inform and represent women in print and new media, Women In Journalism is an amazing organisation that brings women together outside of the constraints the male-dominated media places on them. A couple of weeks ago the Media Guardian, citing recent research from the Fawcett Society, commented on the lack of female editors and sub-editors in British national newspapers. This trend continues into the broadcast and new media arenas.

Men make the news. Since they are the ones in power, inevitably they set the agenda.

According to the Guardian article:

Katherine Rake, the director of the Fawcett Society, said viewers, listeners and readers were "missing out" because women were under-represented in the media.

"Women must not only be presenting the news, they must be making the decisions that determine what gets broadcast in the first place.

"We know that women are more dissatisfied with politics and feel more disengaged from the political agenda.

"Women need to play an equal role in setting the political agenda, both in parliament itself and within the political media. This research shows just how far there is to go until that is achieved."

I hope to get more involved with Women In Journalism and will be joining on their student membership this weekend. The media plays such an important role in shaping our opinions about society, the world and each other and so it is crucial that women get more actively involved in shaping the agenda.

This post can also be read at ameliabutterly.blogspot.com