Experts urge More Women Representation in Media Interviews and Reports

A recent report on gender representation in Ghana’s media has revealed a stark disparity, with only 14% of experts interviewed in 2024 being women. Some media houses recorded as low as 3% female expert representation, highlighting a significant gender gap in the industry.

The Ghana Women Experts Project, which has been monitoring the inclusion of women as experts and authority figures in the media since 2021, collaborated with the British Academy and City, University of London, to bring attention to the issue. Their goal is to address both the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of women in media discourse.

According to Afrobarometer data, over 9 in 10 Ghanaians (92%) rely on radio for news, while about 4 in 5 (83%) turn to television. Given the media’s role in shaping public opinion, setting agendas, and creating awareness, experts argue that increasing female representation in interviews, expert panels, presenter roles, and correspondents is crucial to bridging gender disparity gaps across society.

Key Findings of the Report:

• Gender Distribution of Interviewees: Women remain underrepresented across all media platforms, constituting only 15% of total interviewees.
• Representation of Female Experts: A mere 15% of the experts interviewed were women. TV3 recorded the lowest representation (3%), followed by Peace FM (8%).
• Women as Media Presenters: Only 24% of media presenters were female, with GTV being the only media house where female presenters outnumbered males (60%).
• Time Allocation Equity: While men received more airtime overall, some outlets, such as Citi FM, demonstrated a degree of gender balance, with women receiving comparable or even more time per interview.

Nana Ama Agyeman Asante, Project Lead for the Ghana Women Experts Project, stressed the need for action. “The media plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions and influencing policy decisions. If women’s voices are consistently underrepresented, we risk reinforcing existing gender biases,” she emphasized.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo of the University of Ghana’s Communication Studies Department called for an urgent shift in journalism culture to promote gender-balanced media representation. She emphasized that ensuring women’s voices are heard in all national conversations is essential for achieving true gender equity in media.

By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline