Islamabad: A gender audit conducted by the Women Journalists Association of Pakistan (WJAP) and Freedom Network has revealed that the Pakistani media industry is experiencing a gender crisis due to the insufficient number of female journalists in newsrooms and the absence of gender-sensitive policies.
On International Women’s Day, the research study ‘Unequal Newsrooms: A Gender Audit of Pakistani Media Organisations’ was released. This study was conducted by evaluating 15 media organizations in Islamabad, focusing on aspects such as workforce representation, organizational policies, anti-harassment measures, working conditions, and wages. The assessed organizations comprised six TV channels, four newspapers, three news agencies, and two news websites.
The audit results demonstrated that the average proportion of female journalists in these news outlets is only 11%. A concerning observation is that the majority of the news organizations do not have any woman in a leadership position.
In a recent audit, it was revealed that merely two out of the 15 media establishments have implemented an anti-harassment inquiry committee, despite a federal law mandating it for all employers.
Furthermore, many of these media organizations do not offer legally required paid maternity or paternity leave. The gender sensitivity assessment from the audit report showed that approximately 75% of the 15 news outlets were “gender blind,” meaning their policies and practices fail to identify or address specific gender-based issues that can differently impact men, women, and other gender minorities in the workplace. Fauzia Kalsoom Rana, the founder and convener of WJAP, emphasized that the audit’s findings should prompt media managers to critically evaluate their organizations’ situations.
During a recent audit, it was discovered that only two out of the 15 media establishments had established an anti-harassment inquiry committee, despite a federal law requiring it for all employers. Additionally, numerous media organizations within this group do not provide the legally mandated paid maternity or paternity leave.
The gender sensitivity assessment in the audit report revealed that approximately 75% of the 15 news outlets were “gender blind,” meaning their policies and practices do not acknowledge or address specific gender-based concerns that can differently impact men, women, and other gender minorities in the workplace. Fauzia Kalsoom Rana, the founder and convener of WJAP, stressed that the audit’s findings should prompt media managers to critically assess their organization’s situation.
Media organizations must integrate gender equality across their workplaces, including in leadership roles, by producing more sensitive content and enhancing their engagement with female audiences, as suggested by Myra Imran.
Freedom Network’s Executive Director, Iqbal Khattak, emphasized the importance of civil society supporting the media sector in implementing gender sensitivity reforms. He stated that adopting gender equality as a fundamental value is crucial for transforming organizational culture. Civil society and media development groups can assist media in adhering to gender protection laws and incorporating best practices for gender sensitivity.
The audit highlights the urgent need for corrective actions to address the gender crisis, which deters women from pursuing journalism, infringes upon their workplace rights, and influences the gender balance in media content.
This research provides guidance for news organizations, media administrators, civil groups, journalist associations, and policy creators. It proposes that news organizations should implement gender equality measures in hiring, promotions, and workplace behavior.
The study suggests that journalist unions should advocate for transparency in contracts and salary structures, and seek legal assistance against publishers for breaching gender protection laws. Furthermore, policymakers must address the concerns of workplace sexual harassment and safety risks faced by female media professionals, as highlighted by the gender audit.
