Women and men in journalistic and in reports
In our paper of the 9 journalists, only 2 are men. Why ?
Of course, we come up with different explanations for this: not the highest salary and sometimes tedious routine work. But the idea to make investigation on gender equality has never come to our mind.
Swedish journalist Eva Elke, SR, has organized for journalists from different cities of the Murmansk region a study visit to Luleå with the issue: "Media and Gender Equality."
Interesting facts we learned from the report "Women and men in Norrbotten" Lena Abrahamsson, Professor of Technical University of Luleå , has for several years studied the gender equality in the media Norrbotten: not only the ratio of journalists in each of the media, but also how frequently appear on the photo or frame, women and men.
-When we summed up, it became clear that the media in Norrboten in 75 % stories tell about men. We concluded that media Norrbotten presents to the world male-dominated image .
Russian women journalists by Media House. Picture: Eva Elke
Swedish journalist with the Russian history
Helene Alm, journalist who lived and worked in Russia, preparing TV and radio has also given us a good reason for the discussion. We found many similarities in the approaches to our work but also many differences. For example, in Russia senior positions including media traditionally belong to men. In Sweden more and more women come to these positions. On the other hand, the massive Swedish women began to come to work only in 60 s years of the XX century while in Russia working woman became common after the revolution in 1917. Our experience gives us a different opportunity for an exciting discussion and comparison of working standards.
Two competing newspapers under one roof
We visited the Media House in Luleå where two completive papers are placed: «Norrbottenkuriren» and «NSD». It is Interesting that in both papers of 4 editors 3 are women. Approximately half of female and male reporters work in the newsrooms.
«NSD» after the conclusions of Professor Abrahamsson began its own project entitled "Gender Equality". And they also began to counts how many photos of women and men are published in the newspaper. As a result, only a few months later, the ratio of 61 % men to 39 % of women in the reports has changed to 52 to 48 % . This work continues.
NSD editor-in-chief Tommi Strøm Picture: Natalya Chernova
Woman at the top of the Swedish Radio
The whole day we had passed with Silla Benko, Director General of Swedish Radio.
- Gender diversity is beneficial in every prospective: people work more efficiently and working climate is better, - said Silla Benko. On Swedish radio personnel department monitors compliance with the principles of gender equality. Today we have equality among the board members, the leadership – 4 men and 3 women, heads of different levels - 89 men and 67 women.
- In our programs we still have more men, - continued Silla Benko.- However, for example, in the classical music channel we try to pass more of female composers. The program Radio-theater also tries to promote women playwrights and directors. On a humorous youth-channel there are 60 % of women comedians and 40 % of men. Most sports commentators are men but today we are preparing three female commentators for broadcasts sport.
A little privacy
Seminar organizer Eva Elke has invited us to her place for a dinner. And it was an opportunity to understand how Swedish women journalists feel in everyday life.
I am confident that this trip will be remembered for all the participants not only because of perfect organization and warm reception but also because of the theme of the discussions. It is almost never discussed in Russian media.
Study visit to Luleå was organized by Barents Press in cooperation with the Swedish Radio (SR), support - Swedish Institute.
Natalia Chernova, newspaper "2x2", Apatity
At Eva`s place: Eva Elke to the right, Natalya Chernova to the left. Picture: Elena Larionova
