The media policy arm of Gender Links aims to ensure that the SADC Gender Protocol targets of gender equality in and through the media are integrated into the work of regulatory authorities and media houses. 

Work with media houses began with the Media Action Plan (MAP) on HIV and AIDS policies, which involved developing gender-aware HIV and AIDS policies with over 100 media houses across the region, using the Diversity in Action handbook – a step-by-step guide to developing newsroom policies. 

Our gender policy work builds on the success of several pilot projects with media houses in the region, as well as the MAP initiative. Gender Links has moved away from a six-stage gender policy process to a more sustained approach, which ensures ongoing support and backstopping for media houses through the establishment of 100 Media Centres of Excellence for gender mainstreaming in the media. 

Stages four and five of the COE model involve developing and adopting a media house gender policy. The policy covers all aspects of the media house, including editorial and programming, marketing and advertising, and human resources.