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Gender agenda in the news

22 April 2009

Dr Louise North

New research by Deputy Head of Journalism Dr Louise North has found that during a time of rapid industry and technological change, gender remains an issue in journalists' careers.

In the first research of its kind in Australia, Dr North from the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences at the Gippsland campus explored the experience of journalists in the Australian print media, discovering that male and female journalists experience the newsroom differently.

"While the industry considers new horizons and adjusts to dramatic technological change, gender politics in the newsroom remains stuck in another time: it is the forgotten issue which has a profound impact on the lives and careers of journalists," Dr North said.

"Male dominance of senior editorial positions remains unchallenged, yet this impacts significantly on a wide range of issues such as the allocation of particular stories to male and female journalists, promotional opportunities, sexual harassment and the ability of women to continue their careers after having children," Dr North said.

Dr North interviewed a number of print journalists varying in age and industry experience.

"I found that male journalists were predominantly more self-assured and confident in their career choice, whereas female journalists were more circumspect and in many cases disenchanted by the realities of the newsroom culture," Dr North said.

Dr North, who will now extend her research into the US, has called for more discussion of gender politics within the industry and in the training of journalists in universities.

Dr North's research is detailed in her book: The Gendered Newsroom: how journalists experience the changing world of media.