An inexplicable gap: Journalism and gender in New Zealand

Abstract

This article identifies changes in gender patterns in New Zealand journalism by focussing on print newsrooms between the national census in 2006 and 2013. Apart from a significant drop (61%) in print journalists over the 7-year period, the ratio of males-to-females in newsrooms remained virtually the same, at around 50:50. In contrast, the article also analyses enrolments by gender at the largest journalism programme in the country. The results highlight a marked discrepancy between the number of females enrolling in journalism courses (76% on average between 2005 and 2015) and the numbers of females in newsrooms. The statistical analysis of the 2013 data indicates that males are more likely to be employed as print journalists, to earn more and achieve senior positions. The chasm between the number of female students and working print journalists reinforces the need for more comprehensive data gathering to monitor gender patterns in the New Zealand media industry and address this inexplicable gap.