Document Type
Policy Brief
Department
Graduate School of Media and Communications
Abstract
In 2023, Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) undertook a study examining the representation of women in East African news media organisations with a focus on the coverage and portrayal of women in prominent newspapers, television, and digital news platforms across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The study specifically sought to assess gender representation within the media workforce, the distribution of leadership roles and responsibilities in media companies, and the way women are covered and portrayed in the media. Using content analysis, the study reveals that women are frequently underreported in news stories and disproportionately portrayed in roles tied to traditional gender norms, such as caregiving, entertainment, or victimhood. Coverage of issues affecting women or depictions of their active societal roles, including political participation and economic empowerment, are often limited or biased. Business leadership of East Africa’s media organisations is also heavily skewed in favour of men. The report, State of Women in the Media: Representation, Coverage, and Framing of Women in East African Media, analyses women’s roles in newsrooms and the coverage and framing of women by various media organisations. This policy brief presents key findings from the study and offers actionable recommendations for stakeholders. Addressing the challenges highlighted is a step towards a more equitable media landscape that supports women’s participation, accurately represents the diversity of women’s experiences, and promotes gender-sensitive policymaking. By implementing the recommendations, the media can foster a balanced and inclusive internal environment and subsequently play a key role in shaping a more equitable society.
Recommended Citation
Owilla, Hesbon Hansen, Booker, Nancy, Nyabuga, George, Khamadi, Shitemi, Peermohamed, Alykhan, Mogere, Clare and Pauline Muriuki. (2025). State of women in the media: A look at Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda - Policy Brief 2025. Aga Khan University - Graduate School of Media and Communications.
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