Gender and Ethics: Equality in the Newsroom

By James Achanyi-Fontem, Director of Publications
Email:camlink99@gmail.com
UNESCO partners with the International Federation of Journalist (IFJ), LO-TCO Secretariat of the International Trade Union Development Cooperation, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Media Support organized a conference on Ethics and Gender: Equality in the Newsroom from 30 to 31 May 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.
Following the launch of the gender booklet Getting the balance right: gender equality in journalism, jointly produced by IFJ and UNESCO, the conference examined the performance of journalists in reporting gender issues, the relationship between greater equality and journalism ethics, assessed the status of women in the media, and discussed the role journalists’ unions play in promoting gender ethics in the newsroom.
In attendance were journalists and union leaders from across the world who are responsible for implementing the IFJ gender equality strategies to end inequality in the newsroom. The event also showcased a range of programmes and campaigns that have shown proven successes in recent years. One day was dedicated to IFJ affiliates’ initiatives to stop gender inequalities in the profession.
Getting the balance right: Gender Equality in Journalism
This handbook is a timely, illustrated and easy-to-read guide and resource material for journalists. It evolved primarily out of a desire to equip all journalists with more information and understanding of gender issues in their work. It is addressed to media organisations, professional associations and journalists’ unions seeking to contribute to the goal of gender equality.
This booklet gives added argument and dynamism to a campaign that should be taken up in every newsroom, every media house and every union meeting. Journalism has its roots in the fight for decency, progress and rights for all. It will honour its tradition and reinvigorate the profession when the ideas, guidelines and advice in these pages are put into practice.
UNESCO, jointly with its partners, invites journalists to use this handbook to become better informed when dealing with gender issues in the media sphere. The book will assist people working in the media to assess progress on gender equality, identify challenges, and contribute to local, regional and global debates leading to the formulation of concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. For more information, click on http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ or visit the Cameroon Link Gender and Development Blog at http://cameroonlink.blogspot.com/