Published: October 2012
Country: UK
Sexist stereotypes, humiliating photographs of women and male bylines dominate the front pages of British newspapers, according to research carried out by the industry body Women in Journalism , reports Guardian.
Male journalists wrote 78% of all front-page articles and men accounted for 84% of those mentioned or quoted in lead pieces, according to analysis of nine national newspapers, Monday to Saturday, over the course of four weeks.
The only females to be regularly pictured in the period were the Duchess of Cambridge; her sister, Pippa Middleton, and the crime victim Madeleine McCann. The three males most likely to be photographed were Simon Cowell, whose biography was published that month; Nicolas Sarkozy, who was fighting an election, and Prince William, reports Guardian.
Women’s groups, which complained about sexist stereotypes in the media in a presentation to the Leveson inquiry into media ethics, welcomed the research.
WiJ found that the most male-dominated title was the Independent newspaper, with 91% of its 70 front-page articles written by men in the period studied. In contrast, 50% of the 24 bylines leading the Express were female journalists.
Among the so-called quality press, the Financial Times had the biggest proportion – 34% – of female writers appearing on its front page. Male bylines are more prevalent at the Telegraph (89%), the Sun (86%) and the Times (82%). The Guardian had a 78% male skew.
Anna van Heeswijk, chief executive of Object, said: “With newspapers so male-dominated, is it any surprise that women are portrayed the way they are? Changing the number of female writers and the ways in which women are portrayed in the media is crucial if we are serious about wanting a socially responsible press.”
Women in Journalism’s research reflects a malaise that George Entwistle, the BBC’s new director general, admits is writ large in broadcasting, reports Guardian stating that the BBC has faced pressure over its treatment of women on screen after a series of damaging rows over ageism and sexism.
Related stories:
New BBC director pledges more female presenters
Media’s Male Mindset Exposed in Britain and Australia
Read the whole study by Women in Journalism:
