Underrepresentation of Women’s Voices Undermines Credible Journalism, Especially in Conflict Zones
By [Your Name], International Editor, nouvelles-du-monde.com
As global tensions escalate and conflicts rage on, the need for accurate and comprehensive journalism has never been more critical. But a persistent imbalance in news coverage – the systematic underrepresentation of women’s perspectives – is eroding the public’s understanding of these crises and, ultimately, weakening democratic discourse.
The issue isn’t simply about fairness; it’s about legitimacy. News that fails to reflect the diverse realities of those affected by conflict offers an incomplete, and therefore inaccurate, picture of the world. This International Women’s Day, newsrooms worldwide are being urged to critically assess whether their coverage truly represents the societies they serve.
Recent data paints a stark picture. A 2024 report by CARE found that while overall media coverage of conflicts increased more than sixfold between 2013 and 2023, only 5% of articles focused on the experiences of women in war. Disturbingly, a mere 0.3% of that coverage portrayed women positively.
The problem extends beyond the stories being told, to who is telling them. An analysis by International Media Support (IMS) of news coverage of the war in Ukraine revealed that women accounted for only 23% of the experts, protagonists, and sources quoted. A 2023 study from Bridgewater State University’s Journal of International Women’s Studies found that even when women are included in conflict reporting, they are often relegated to narrow, stereotypical roles – as victims or caregivers – rather than being portrayed as decision-makers or active agents.
Initiatives like the Women in News (WIN) Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) are working to address this imbalance. SIRI has provided grants to 80 women journalists in Ukraine and Gaza, resulting in over 200 stories centering women’s experiences during wartime. These narratives, published across Palestinian, Arab, and international platforms, contribute to a more nuanced global understanding of conflict.
However, these stories shouldn’t be seen as supplemental to traditional war reporting, but as essential to enriching it. They provide crucial context, revealing the social, economic, and human consequences of war as experienced differently across gender lines.
The key to sustained change may lie in newsroom leadership. Data from WAN-IFRA WIN’s 2024 Gender Balance in Content report demonstrates that women-owned and women-led media organizations consistently outperform others in gender representation. Among 83 outlets analyzed globally, the 12 women-led organizations achieved an average gender balance score of 30.25%, compared to 22.70% across the entire sample. In five women-founded outlets, women appeared as main characters in 44.2% of coverage – nearly double the overall average.
Yet, the WIN Leadership Mapping 2024 report underscores a significant hurdle: women remain underrepresented in senior editorial roles. On average, women hold just under one in three top editorial posts and fewer than one in five business leadership positions. This leadership gap directly impacts story selection, sourcing, and overall newsroom priorities, particularly during times of crisis.
Ultimately, inclusive journalism isn’t optional; it’s fundamental to credible reporting in a complex and conflict-ridden world. Media plays a vital role in democratic accountability, shaping public debate and influencing policy. When half of society’s experiences are systematically underreported, especially in times of upheaval, the very foundations of democratic discourse are weakened.