Why are specific news beats covered by specific gender?
Behind those glamorous faces of news channels and the hardcore truths and lies we see, with which ‘beats’ are largely associated in media organisations across the commonwealth, what fascinates me even more is the assumption that normally certain beat coverage work well with a particular gender.
In the world of profession, where ‘predominant beat’ actually refers to subjects, are generally covered by a news-'man' in the course of reporting. Let me fairly dare to explain.
Basically Hard beats, as the name suggests, largely resultant with subjects considered ‘aggressor’ in particularly journalistic jargon. These were usually almost always assigned to male reporters. Monition are topics like crime, economy, sports, politics.
There are 74% male journalists in national newspapers and the rest female. Infact it's worse to know only 2-3% female journalists cover sports. (Source: theguardian.com)
But if you go and look at the universities then there are 80% girls pursuing the course of journalism and mass communication and only 20% boys! Then how come it gets completely opposite in the corporate world? If these much women show interest in journalism where do they disappear then? Most of them go for advertising, radio and the rest drop because of family concerns as the more privileged it is to be a reporter, equally dangerous it is!
But broadly soft beatniks especially were assigned to women reporters – topics that generally are along the lines of entertainment, travel and education.
But another thing to be noted is that when young female reporters who go for challenging roles, full of enthusiasm, give up when actually given hard beats.
The media that talks about empowering women all the time does not make an individual realize those inside-games and their inner Orthodox ideologies.
The question is not which gender should be given what beats it is about the assignation of beats based on an individual's intelligence, dedication and understanding.
In the world of profession, where ‘predominant beat’ actually refers to subjects, are generally covered by a news-'man' in the course of reporting. Let me fairly dare to explain.
Basically Hard beats, as the name suggests, largely resultant with subjects considered ‘aggressor’ in particularly journalistic jargon. These were usually almost always assigned to male reporters. Monition are topics like crime, economy, sports, politics.
There are 74% male journalists in national newspapers and the rest female. Infact it's worse to know only 2-3% female journalists cover sports. (Source: theguardian.com)
But if you go and look at the universities then there are 80% girls pursuing the course of journalism and mass communication and only 20% boys! Then how come it gets completely opposite in the corporate world? If these much women show interest in journalism where do they disappear then? Most of them go for advertising, radio and the rest drop because of family concerns as the more privileged it is to be a reporter, equally dangerous it is!
But broadly soft beatniks especially were assigned to women reporters – topics that generally are along the lines of entertainment, travel and education.
But another thing to be noted is that when young female reporters who go for challenging roles, full of enthusiasm, give up when actually given hard beats.
The media that talks about empowering women all the time does not make an individual realize those inside-games and their inner Orthodox ideologies.
The question is not which gender should be given what beats it is about the assignation of beats based on an individual's intelligence, dedication and understanding.
So true... ��
ReplyDeleteThis post touches upon an important topic and needs to be expanded and then published in form of a proper investigative article/report. Atleast, I would like to read it, if no one else.
ReplyDelete