Women gain ground in newsroom - but not in the news

JOHANNESBURG, 17 August 2026: Women account for just 29% of people heard as news sources across Southern Africa, compared with 71% who are men, according to new research released today by Gender Links.

This represents a 12-percentage-point increase in women’s share of news sources from just 17% in 2003 - continued, but slow, progress in over two decades. The 2026 Gender and Media Progress Study (GMPS) analysed 2,060 news items from more than 200 print, online, television and radio outlets across all 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

The findings reveal a striking disconnect between progress inside newsrooms and representation in news content. Women now account for 42% of reporters, up from 31% in 2003, and slightly outnumber men as television and radio presenters and anchors. Yet these gains have not translated into more balanced sourcing.

It also coincides with SADC Day and the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit, where South Africa assumes the SADC Chairship for 2026/27. The findings offer timely evidence for assessing progress towards Article 29 of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, which calls on state parties to encourage media to give equal voice to women and men across all areas of coverage.

“SADC has committed to equal voice for women and men in the media, but more than two decades of monitoring show that the region remains far from achieving it,” said Colleen Lowe Morna, Gender Links Special Advisor. “The gap is especially stark in stories about politics, the economy and leadership - the issues that shape public priorities and decisions.”

The findings are particularly relevant as SADC leaders meet to discuss inclusive industrialisation and regional development. Building an inclusive future requires a public conversation that reflects the voices of the whole region.

Key regional findings

No SADC country achieved parity. Women accounted for 47% of news sources in Eswatini - the highest proportion - and just 15% in Angola, the lowest.

Women’s visibility differs sharply by topic. Women were most visible in stories on gender equality, SRHR and GBV, but least visible in politics, business, sport, and peace and conflict.

Women are heard less often as authorities. Women made up 38% of personal experience sources, but only 30% of expert commentators and 24% of spokespersons.

Women are missing from the picture. Nearly three in five (58%) news images mainly featured men and boys, compared with just 18% featuring women and girls. Only one in four (24%) showed balanced representation.

Most news remains gender blind. Nearly six in ten stories (59%) gave limited consideration to gender, while just 27% were classified as gender aware.

“More women reporting the news is important progress, but it does not mean they have equal influence over editorial decisions - or that more women are heard,” said Tabetha Kanengoni Gender Links Director of Programmes, “Real change depends on who sets the news agenda, who is recognised as an expert and whose perspectives make it into the story.”

Conducted every five years since 2003, the GMPS provides more than two decades of comparable evidence on who reports the news, who is heard as a source and how women and men are represented across Southern African media.

For more information, contact:
Deborah Walter, GL Gender and Media Manager, media@genderlinks.org.za
Colleen Lowe Morna, GL Special Advisor, specialadvisor@genderlinks.org.za