The “Pakistan’s Media Needs Women” campaign launched off the back of comprehensive national mapping work by the WMFP in recent months looking at the balance of representation in various media outlets. Of an industry that employs an estimated 15,000 journalists and media workers, between 5 to 30 per cent are estimated to be women. The higher proportions are women employed within the media hubs of Karachi and Islamabad, with their numbers diminishing dramatically in areas like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). While the mapping found some women represented in leadership roles at media outlets, press clubs, and unions, an overwhelming majority of organisations did not record women employed at this level. Appointments to leadership were often seen as tokenistic, rather than genuinely reflecting the realities of the industry.
“Pakistan’s Media Needs Women” is a rolling campaign of awareness raising on these key issues affecting women but is seeking for more men to stand up and become ‘agents of change’ in heralding a new era for Pakistan’s media so it can better reflect the gender balance of society. The WMFP is also strongly urging press clubs and unions to give firm commitments to a transformative change agenda that would not just benefit women journalists but the industry as a whole.
The WMFP said “At the moment, Pakistan’s media is only telling half of the story. Through our research, we have identified the deep challenges facing women in journalism, and know that proactive action from journalists, unions, and other media stakeholders is the only way to achieve change.”
Labour rights concerns have undermined the ability of many of Pakistan’s journalists to speak out. Too many precarious workers are either unaware of their rights, or face threats or retribution for defending their rights at work. Women reported being told how to vote in press club elections and being denied leadership opportunities because of their gender. Another compounding factor is that many young, female journalists employed on contracts are not eligible or not welcome to join press clubs or unions. Many remain on press club waitlists for years, with membership heavily overrepresented by male members.
Mapping found that within many workplaces, pay inequity was the norm, and most workplaces did not having gender policies or, if they did, they were not implemented. Most outlets – with a few promising exceptions – failed to provide gender-specific facilities or entitlements such as late night transport or separate bathrooms.
The WMFP said: “Our research has revealed what many women in journalism in Pakistan already know – we are not represented in leadership positions, unions, or press clubs and this needs to change. Journalist organisations must take a strong lead in the fight against gender inequality, precarious work, and exploitation, elevating women to decision-making roles, and ensuring that the working conditions for all media professionals are improved.”
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IFJ is a seed supporter of the WMFP via its national union building project.