How different are male and female journalists? Results from a quantitative study
Gender differences continues to be a debated topic in media research. Previous studies have identified structured differences in media content, in audience profiles, and in the newsroom itself. Current research in various African contexts shows a renewed interest in the possible relation between gender configuration in the newsroom and media content.
This paper discusses gender differences in the contemporary African newsroom based on the results from a sizable quantitative survey. 346 journalists (male/female) were interviewed from a series of news institutions in a country considered traditional in terms of gender roles, namely Ethiopia. The paper identifies differences between male and female journalists in a number of areas, including ethical preferences, normative ideals of journalism, sources of influence, view on media transformation, confidence levels, religious preferences, and more.
This paper discusses gender differences in the contemporary African newsroom based on the results from a sizable quantitative survey. 346 journalists (male/female) were interviewed from a series of news institutions in a country considered traditional in terms of gender roles, namely Ethiopia. The paper identifies differences between male and female journalists in a number of areas, including ethical preferences, normative ideals of journalism, sources of influence, view on media transformation, confidence levels, religious preferences, and more.
Published in Paper presented at the annual conference of the South African Communication Association (SACOMM), Cape Town, South Africa, 2015
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