Show your support for women and encourage media executives to feature more positive role models for women in mainstream media. In an era where women are expected to hold up half the world, does the mirror of mainstream media reflect the reality of most women? Does it reflect the good work that women are doing? Do most mainstream media programs inspire and encourage women to live better lives? We need more positive role models in mainstream media.
Television
According to recent
studies more women than men watch television. Women also watch more reality programs (
65-75% women watch entertainment television). The question is what is the true reality for women? Does plastic surgery, wife swapping, and popping pills represent and support the majority of women? We think not. We need more positive role models for women in mainstream media.
According to the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), women's opinions are missing on television. In 2006, only
28% of all U.S. broadcast network (ABC, CBS, NBC) evening newscast stories were
reported by women. (Center for Media and Public Affairs, 2007). In fact, a study of
MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and
CNN%u2019s nightly news shows found that
hosts and guests are still overwhelmingly male and white. In addition, on all three cable networks the majority of the guests were male and on some networks women
comprised as little as 18 percent. (Media Matters for America, May 2007) We need more positive role models in mainstream media.
Print
In newspapers, 38 percent of journalists working in daily newspapers are women.
American Society of Newspaper Editors, 2006 census. Magazines are no better, women represent
one quarter of writers in national general interest magazines. We need more positive role models for women in mainstream media.
Radio
Of the top 100 radio programs, only 15 are hosted by women, Heavy Hundred, Talkers Magazine, 2007. Only 3 percent of clout positions in mainstream media are held by women. The Glass Ceiling Persists, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2003.
We need more positive role models for women in mainstream media.
