Survey exposes gender gap in Sudanese media

October 13, 2024 (KAMPALA) – A new survey has found that women make up just 2% of managers and editors in Sudanese media, highlighting a stark gender imbalance in the country’s newsrooms.

The survey, conducted by the Al-Alag Center for Press Services, was presented on Sunday at a workshop in Kampala titled “Women’s Impact on the Path to Peace: Leadership and Economic Empowerment.”

“Women represent only 1% in administrative structures and 1% in editorial leadership,” said Madiha Abdallah, director of Al-Alag Center.

The survey covered 13 media organizations and websites. Five others declined to participate.

Abdallah noted that while some outlets have gender policies and dedicated programs or pages focusing on women’s issues, the overall representation of women in decision-making roles remains extremely low.

“The survey showed a variation in editorial policies… but the majority emphasized professionalism, adherence to journalistic principles, human rights, diversity, equality, and combating hate speech and racism,” she said, adding that some have specific policies on covering gender-based violence.

However, the centre’s monitoring of news websites in August found that coverage primarily focused on displaced people and refugees, with limited attention to the specific situations of women and children.

“Most of the information… is taken from men, except for a few news websites that conduct interviews with displaced and refugee women,” Abdallah said. “Meanwhile, news of sexual violence and rape received significant attention… and famine also received more press coverage.”

Journalists at the workshop discussed challenges in covering women’s issues, including difficulty accessing information, insecurity, misinformation, a focus on political news, and the lack of dedicated media platforms for women’s issues.

Participants recommended developing a national strategy for women’s issues, promoting active participation, establishing a dedicated TV channel or radio station for women’s issues, dismantling stereotypes, and creating gender units within media organizations.