In the Balance is a resource center for journalists, to help them make their reporting more inclusive of women’s perspectives and voices, and more representative of the world we live in by applying a gender-lens approach.

Just like a lens can help the eye see better, a “gender lens” allows us to consider the powers at play that have to do with gender in any given situation. Applied to journalism, this means taking into account how gender affects people and events at all stages of producing a news story, to ensure a fuller, more nuanced picture, and richer, more informative news where the audience feels included.

It seems like the most obvious step to take, but we all know it can be tough to find new, credible sources. Luckily, there is a growing number of databases indexing women experts. We’ve put together a list of some of those, as well as a list of helpful grassroots initiatives and organizations for you. Maybe it’ll spark some ideas, and help save you some time.

Oftentimes, research is reported on for a main finding that is deemed newsworthy at one time. But nested in reports and studies are details and bits of information that can spark an idea for a story. Want to start digging? We have a selection for you on a variety of topics to get you started exploring how gender intesects with all beats.

Many journalists all over the world have been doing this work for years. Yet, gender-sensitive journalism remains underrecognized and sometimes, even, misunderstood. To help you get a more concrete sense of what it means to apply the gender lens throughout different stages of the journalistic process, we compiled some advice from renowned reporters and editors.

Untold Stories: Experts’ POVs> View all articles

Lisa Falco

Lisa Falco on the Gender Data Gap, Health, and AI Bias

Untold stories

The Swiss data scientist has been working on healthcare technology for a decade and a half. In this discussion with her, we covered the basics — from what data actually is to why it’s so important — before getting into the specifics of the gender data gap in medicine and in tech.

Women marching the streets of Washington D.C., United States in October 2021 (Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash)

What does International Women’s Day mean in 2023?

Untold stories

Three organizations that work daily to achieve gender equality (Equal Measures 2030, Equimundo and Women in Global Health) tell us what March 8 means to them.

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Reporting on the Gender Pay Gap: Cutting Through the White Noise

Untold stories

Claudia Goldin won’t be making history with Nobel prizes every few weeks, and Equal Pay Day is just once a year. We need more thorough and continuous coverage of the gender pay gap.

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Peer-to-Peer: Hear from experienced journalists> Access all episodes

In our third episode of “Peer-to-Peer,” Bloomberg’s Global Standards Editor tells about the ways in which the business and finance-focused news organization is making its reporting and newsroom more inclusive.

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For our first episode of “Peer-to-Peer,” we sat down with former gender director at the New York Times Francesca Donner for tips on how to produce more layered stories.

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The award-winning science journalist and author tells about the steps he’s taken to make his stories more inclusive, and how that fundamentally changed his reporting over the past eight years. He also shares some of what he has learned telling the stories of women amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Gender in the News: Analyses & Examples> View all articles

Hot Off the Press: Women & Economic News

In the Newsroom

Here’s a selection of pieces that caught our attention in relation to “women and economic news,” our focus theme in January 2023.

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Hot Off the Press: The Gender Data Gap

In the Newsroom

Here’s a selection of pieces that caught our attention in relation to the “gender data gap,” our focus theme in February 2023.

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Women & Peace: Four Interesting Angles as Seen in the News

In the Newsroom

 

A selection of articles looking at conflicts and peace through a gender lens.

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Newsletter: The gender lens in action, one theme at a time> View all newsletters

Not to be all doom and gloom, but the next pandemic might be right around the corner, experts warn – it’s “inevitable.” We’ve heard of Disease X in the last few months, and although no clear global threat has been identified for now (despite the current worldwide cholera outbreaks), the world isn’t equipped to face another global pandemic quite yet.

It’s tough when, in the wake of an election where populism triumphs, we’re reminded how big of a role and responsibility journalism holds in what happens in society. We might avoid thinking about it on the daily or even somehow momentarily forget, but when the results of a ballot are confirmed, we have to face the facts: The news industry played a part in this outcome.

2024 is an election year in over 80 countries. Nearly half the global population has already voted or is expected to in the next eight months. Whether local, national, or international, these ballots are connected to the broader world context. While the top concerns for potential electors seem to be inflation, poverty, and social inequality, many politicians have chosen to put migration (once again) on their list of priorities when campaigning.


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Data & Reports: Follow the thread> View all articles

(Source: The Global Media Monitoring Project)

Business and Finance are the Least Inclusive Sections in the News

Data & Studies

Women are underrepresented in the news, especially in economy-related stories. Here are the big picture numbers you need.

(Source: The Global Media Monitoring Project)

Women in Politics: Does the News Perpetuate Misrepresentation?

Data & Studies

 

Since 1995, there has been a growing number of women running for office, getting elected or designated as representatives. Let’s take a look at how the representation of women in politics and in political news evolved over the years.

What Is the Gender Data Gap, and Why Does it Matter?

Data & Studies

There’s a lack of information about how half of the population experiences the world. Being aware of what can’t be seen (at first) is important to reflect the world more accurately in the news.


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