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Gender sensitive reporting


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Gender-sensitive reporting

GENDER SENSITIVE REPORTING


For the media to accurately mirror our societies, to produce coverage that is complete and diverse, it is critical that the news reflect the world as seen through the eyes of women as well as men.


Women should be involved at all levels of media organisations, including as reporters and decision-makers. But simply having more women in a newsroom is not enough to guarantee gender-sensitive reporting.
The nature of news, the choices made about what is newsworthy and the way the story is reported must change too. Women need to be used more as the sources and subjects of stories. They need to be interviewed as commentators and experts.
Women are interested in, concerned with and write about things that men are interested in. It’s important for both not to be isolated in gender-based ghettos and to avoid any separation on gender lines in terms of who writes about what.

PICTURE MALE REPORTING ON “SOFT ISSUE” … FEMALE WAR CORRESPONDENT

All journalists, both female and male, can play a role in changing attitudes to women and gender-based stereotypes.


You can make a choice. You can make a difference. This article sets out to provide you with some guidelines on how to become a gender-sensitive reporter.

Gender-sensitive reporting.


One of the first things journalists are taught is that each story must answer the questions: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW. The same device can be applied for practicing gender-sensitive journalism.

Another set of questions to help journalists and editors keep diverse perspectives, including gender-sensitive ones, in their stories comes from the Poynter Institute of Journalism in the United States.





Detecting and avoiding gender-insensitive reporting.
This is a guideline to questions you should be asking yourself when reading or listening to reports.
Who are the sources of the reports?
How many sources are government and corporate officials?

How many belong to the progressive, public interest groups?

How many sources are women?

How many sources are from minority groups?


From whose point of view is the news reported?
In whose interest does the report serve?

Does this interest coincide with that of the government?

Does it coincide with that of the corporate world?

Is the report in the public’s interest? Which public?


Are there double standards in the news report?
Are there contradictory double standard? For example, single fathers

sympathized with for their circumstances, while single mothers are said to

“deserve” the hardship.
Are stereotypes used in the news report?
How is one group portrayed in the story?

Is this group always associated with certain characteristics?


Is loaded language used?
Is the language objective enough to not sway public opinion?

Is the language objective enough so readers can form their own opinions?


Is the report contextualised?
Is the story put in context so readers can form their own opinions?
Does the graphics used match the content?
Do the images and illustrations used contradict the content?

Do they lead readers to understand the story content differently?


But gender-sensitive journalism is not only about things like sources and context. It’s also about the language we use in writing our stories.
Language is a dynamic and socially-informed tool. To be truly equal, women must be seen and heard to be equal. This means eliminating language that misrepresents, excludes or offends women.
Careful use of language and images in the media will give a more accurate reflection of your audience or readership, and this can positively affect people’s consciousness over time.
The media can be proactive in changing perceptions about people in a society by using new terms regularly, or explaining why a term has become negative and not acceptable to a group of people.
Here are some quick examples:
Use neutral terms that favour neither sex and more accurately reflect the purpose of a gathering or a meeting. For example, rather than “ladies and gentlemen” use “colleagues, delegates”.
Avoid using feminine suffixes that reinforce the notion that generic nouns are male, while female nouns are different. For example, use manager, executor, for both women and men.
Avoid words or phrases that make assumptions about gender. For example, an invitation to an event that invites both “conference delegates and their wives”.
Avoid words and phrases that make assumptions about how women think or look or how men and women behave.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation developed these guidelines to make sure that the language used by on-air personnel treats men and women equally:
When referring to men and women, make sure they’re addressed in the same manner. For example, instead of saying “Mr Smith and Mary Jones” refer to them as “John Smith and Mary Jones” (using both of their first names) or “Mr Smith and Ms/Miss Jones” (using titles, rather than names).
Describe a woman as her own person, and not in relationship to someone else. Instead of saying “Mary Smith, who is married to John Smith”, say “Mary Smith, who is a writer”.
Use parallel language to refer to men and women. Don’t say “Men and ladies” or “Men and girls”. Instead, say “Men and Women” or “Ladies and gentlemen”.
Avoid patronizing terms. Don’t use terms like “the little lady” or “better half” when you are referring to someone’s spouse, or wife.

Use the word feminist, instead of “women's libber”.


Use terms that can include both sexes: the Chair, Chairperson, rather than the Chairman. Human achievements rather than man’s achievements.
Use plural forms or neutral words to avoid assumptions about a person’s sex. Examples: Doctors bill their patients, instead of, a doctor bills his patients. People like their comfort, instead of, a man like his comfort.
Replace gender-specific words with gender-neutral words. (However, some people are more comfortable with traditional titles, so if a woman wishes to be called Chairman, rather than Chairperson, use the term that she prefers.)
After the 1995 Beijing Conference, UNESCO published its Guidelines on Gender-neutral Language. The following is a selection of language tips from the document.
The entire handbook can be downloaded from UNESCO’s Women and Gender Equality site: http://www.unesco.org/women/index_en.htm
As you go through the list, see if you can think of the equivalent gender-neutral terms in your own language.
Avoid using “man” as a generic noun
The English language tends to use “man” as a generic noun. It is as if men represent the whole human race.


Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage

Man, mankind

People, humanity, human beings, humankind, the human species, the human race, we, ourselves, men and women, homo sapiens, one, the public, society, the self, human nature

Manpower

Staff, labour, work force, employees, personnel, workers, human resources, human power, human energy

Man-hour

Person-hour, work-hour

Brotherhood

Human fellowships, human kinship, solidarity

Founding fathers

Founders

 Develop a terminology for your language.




Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage







































Avoid using “he” as a generic pronoun
Unless the gender of the subject is known and is relevant to the context, avoid using “he” as a generic pronoun.


Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage

The student is going back to school today. He will continue to learn a lot.

The students are going back to school today. They will continue to learn a lot.

 Develop a terminology for your language.




Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage






































Avoid associating men and women with certain professions
It’s common to associate men and women with certain professions. Try to use gender-neutral terms to name these professions.


Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage

Anchorman

Anchor

Businessman

Business manager, executive, head of firm, agent, representative

Businessmen

business community, business people

Cameraman

Photographer, camera operator

Cameramen

Camera crew

Chairman

Chairperson, chair, president, presiding officer

Cleaning lady

Cleaner, housekeeper

Craftsman

Craftsperson

Delivery boy

Messenger

Fireman

Fire-fighter; (plural) fire crew, fire brigade

Housewife

Homemaker, consumer, customer, shopper

Maid

Domestic worker

Manpower

Workforce

Policeman

Police officer; (plural) police

Salesman / girl

Shop assistant, sales assistant, shop worker; (plural) sales staff

Spokesman

Representative, spokesperson

Steward / stewardess

Flight attendant; (plural) cabin crew

Waiter, waitress

Server

Watchman

Security Guard

Women doctor; male nurse

Doctor; nurse

Workmen’s compensation

Worker’s compensation

Unless the gender of that person is known and is relevant to the context, avoid identifying the gender.



 Develop a terminology for your language.


Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage






































Avoid gender stereotyping, avoid seeing women as possessions


  • Do not assume conventional kind of gender relations.




  • Alternate the word order in phrases that include both sexes so that neither women nor men always go first, to avoid giving the impression that women are after-thoughts.




  • Identify women as individuals, persons in their own right, rather than as someone’s wife, mother, grandmother or widow, unless it is appropriate given the specific context.




  • Avoid seeing women as possessions by naming them in reference to their husbands or fathers.




  • Avoid calling women “girls”.




Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage

John and Mary both have full-time jobs. He helps her with the housework.

John and Mary both have full-time jobs. They share the housework.

Or Mary and John both have full-time jobs; they share the housework.

Research scientists often neglect their wives and children.

Research scientists often neglect their families.

Men and girls

Men and women; women and men

Man and wife

Husband and wife; wife and husband

Better half

Wife, spouse

Mr Smith and his wife, Mary.

Mr John Smith and his spouse, Ms Mary Smith.

Or John Smith and his spouse, Mary Smith.

Or John and his wife, Mary.

 Develop a terminology for your language.




Gender-insensitive language usage

Gender-sensitive language usage





































Further reading on gender-sensitive language:


IPS Gender and Development Glossary published by IPS-Inter Press Service.

CBC Gender Guidelines published by Media Awareness Network (http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/gov/cbc/cbcgend.htm)
Now try the following exercises, referring back to the previous pages.
 Exercise 1 – Learning to do gender-sensitive reporting
A wire-services agency releases an exclusive photo of the world’s most expensive sports car, surrounded by models in hot pants and halter-tops. As the sports sub-editor, would you:


  • Use the story without the picture?

  • Use the story with the picture?

WHO? No one seems to be missing if the picture is not used.

WHAT? The news report is about the car, not the models.

The readers may want to see the car but this is not the main

function of the sports section.

WHERE? To get more information from the car manufacturer and the opinions of professional sportspersons.

WHEN? Not relevant.

WHY? Including information about the functions of the car is relevant as these interest the readers of sports section. Excluding the pictures may disappoint those who want to see the car but will promote gender-sensitive journalism.


Who are the sources of the reports? News agency.

For who is news reported? Should be for readers, not the car manufacturer.

Are there double standards in the report? Not applicable.

Is there stereotyping? If use the photo, then stereotype women as sexual objects.

Is loaded language used? Not applicable.

Is the report contextualised? Should include more information about the sports car and how it’s related to sports.

Does the graphics used match the content? If the report is about the car, then using the picture may not match the content.

DECISION: The content will focus on the functions of the car and how it is related to sports. If it is possible, get a photo of the car without the models. If this is not possible, don’t use the photo.

 Exercise 2 – Making a difference in reporting news
The following are two real cases found in newspapers.

If you were the reporter, how would you make the stories gender-sensitive?


Case 1
Context: A South Korean football referee, on an exchange programme with another Asian country, had just begun officiating in the men’s league matches, when she drew attention from local newspapers and television. She has International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) accreditation and was voted Asia’s best referee by the Asian Football Confederation.















How would you make a difference?




Who are the sources of the reports?




What other sources will you include?










From whose point of view is the news reported?




What other points of view will you include?










Are there double standards in the news report?




How will you avoid this?










Is there stereotyping in the news report?




How will you avoid this?










Is loaded language used?




What kind of language will you use?










Is the report contextualized?




What would you do to give a fuller context?












Does the graphics used match the content?




What kind of graphics will you be looking for?










Case 2
Journalists spend a lot of time learning to write headlines. To draw attention, shocking or unusual information is often used. While the gender of women is often highlighted in the headline, the gender of men is seldom mentioned. Consider the following two headlines and suggest how you can make a difference.


My headline:





My headline:





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