ISLAMABAD: Women journalists ratio has dropped to 4% in Pakistan in 2025, a drastic decline from 16 per cent in 2020. The UK’s Research Centre based on the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) has revealed this bitter truth about women’s representation in journalism in Pakistan.
The findings indicate that progress on gender equality in Pakistani newsrooms has not only stalled but reversed sharply over the past five years.
GMMP 2025, monitored on May 6, coincided with heightened India–Pakistan military tensions. Uks noted that this conflict-heavy news cycle crowded out gender-related stories and resulted in zero appearances of women reporters on television, radio, or digital news that day.
Gender-Based Violence Barely Covered
Across all monitored platforms, only one story addressed gender-based violence. The report stated that the coverage portrayed the woman solely as a victim and failed to apply any human rights or legal framework. Researchers observed that editorial routines continue to sideline gender-sensitive reporting even outside conflict-driven news cycles.
Women’s Visibility as News Subjects Declines
Women constituted only 13 per cent of news subjects, down from 18 per cent in 2020. All stories featuring women were reported by men, reflecting what Uks described as a “clear reversal of earlier gains.” The only category showing improvement was social and legal news, where women’s representation rose to 20 per cent, up from 14 per cent.
Global Findings Show Stagnation
The GMMP report highlights similar stagnation across 94 countries, where women account for 26 per cent of individuals cited in traditional news and 29 per cent in digital news—figures largely unchanged over a decade. Women remain underrepresented as experts and appear as victims at twice the rate of men, particularly in domestic violence coverage.
Researchers concluded that the 2025 results reflect a global media environment where existing strategies are failing to produce meaningful improvements in gender equality.
