The Guardian recently had a story on a report that found a ‘culture of exclusion’ is keeping women of color out of top jobs in the media.
The analysis found that for every woman who was an editor-in-chief, there were at least two – and in some places as many as 12 – men at the same level.
And the challenges facing women of color in racially diverse countries were even greater. For example, The Guardian said 37% of the media organizations surveyed in Britain had a female editor-in-chief, but just 1% had a woman of color at the helm.
The report analyzed newsrooms and news stories from six countries – the U.S., the U.K., India, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. It found women of all backgrounds were significantly underrepresented in editorial leadership roles and in coverage.
The Guardian story said the report found that interviewees in all countries believed the “maternal wall” – the barrier facing all women who have children – to be a factor in the stymying of career advancement. The colleague of one interviewee was told by a male editor that she had impressive journalistic credentials, adding: “Just make sure you leave your womb at the door.”
Shop Talk is a weekly panel discussion about journalism issues. This week’s program featured Will Buss, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University and advises the student editors at the Western Courier and the students at student radio station The Dog: Jessica Martin, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University and is news director of NEWS3-TV at WIU; and TSPR News Director Rich Egger.
