WASHINGTON (AP) – Men are behind more news stories than women by a nearly 2-to-1 margin across print and television platforms, though there was a slight increase in bylines and credits for women last year, a new study says.
The Washington-based Women’s Media Center released its study Thursday as part of its fourth annual report on “The Status of Women in U.S. Media.”
Overall, the study found that the percentage of bylines, on-camera appearances and producer credits for women had increased nominally from last year. In 2014, about 37 percent of news was generated by women, up from 36 percent in 2013.
“Our research shows that women, who are more than half of the population, write only a third of the stories. Media tells us our roles in society – it tells us who we are and what we can be. This new report shows us who matters and what is important to media – and clearly, as of right now, it is not women,” center President Julie Burton said in a statement.
The study also found that, as in 2013, female journalists were less likely to report on issues of politics and crime and justice and more likely to report on education, health and lifestyle topics. Important for 2016 presidential coverage, the center said, the study found that about 35 percent of U.S. political news was reported by women, down from 36 percent in 2013.