How to Use Reflect Reality

Reflect Reality is a compilation of the experience and expertise of a wide variety of stakeholders from across the media industry and the private sector. It includes content and strategies relevant to newsrooms, journalists and journalism trainers, interested in increasing the extent that women are sourced as subject matter experts in the news. It is also a resource for private and public industries that interact with the media. Specific strategies are presented for persons in business interested in increasing the voice of women as experts and spokespersons in the news.

For Newsrooms and Journalists 

At the core of Reflect Reality is a set of proven strategic approaches and resources for news producers, that enable newsrooms and journalists increase the number and frequency of women as sources in the news. Strategies for News Producers can be used by media managers to implement changes in the newsroom, or by journalists individually to improve the gender balance of their work.

These strategies, suggested activities and tips fall into one of four categories: Planning and Analysis for launching key interventions in the newsroom; Tracking the gender split of sources; Ensuring Staff Buy-In for the ongoing participation of the newsroom; and, specific activities for Cultivating Sources.

The proposed activities can be implemented as part of comprehensive initiatives, or newsrooms can pick and choose activities to suit their needs.

Newsrooms and journalists will also learn from the section, Pilot Projects, which details how four distinct news teams have approached the task of sourcing more women in the news.

For additional background, news producers can review the global and regional statistics on women's voices in the news presented in the section, The Problem; the main reason to have a greater focus on women as sources in the section, Making the Case; and the various obstacles that are currently limiting women's voices in the section, Challenges.

For journalists looking for interview-ready women experts, see Reflect Reality’s collection of expert databases available to the public, organized by topic and region. Access additional tools and resources here.

For Business

Reflect Reality recognizes that journalists alone cannot solve gender disparity in sources. People across industry, whether working for private companies, government, non-profit organizations or universities, are also involved in identifying the persons who are interviewed by journalists, whether as spokespersons or subject matter experts on specific topics. We are all subject to gender bias, which can influence who we suggest or recommend for interviews. Strategies for Business, provides an overview of the important role people in the business world –particularly those working in public relations or communication functions – have in putting women forward as sources, and suggest best practices for ensuring more equal representation.

Those in the business world should also be aware of the extent of the disparity of women's voices around the world presented in the section, The Problem, as well as the key obstacles that result in the enduring gender disparity in the section, Challenges.

For Journalism Trainers

Information and downloadable handouts provided in each of Reflect Reality’s five sections are relevant for journalism trainers or instructors. The global and regional statistics presented in the section, The Problem, can help explain the extent of the problem to trainees. The arguments included in Making the Case can help explain to trainees why a greater focus on sourcing women is important to the quality of journalism and the impact their work has on society. Trainers can select from a variety of testimonials in the section, Challenges, representing different regions and perspectives, which can help trainees better understand the obstacles that both newsroom and women experts face. Trainers can design activities based on the suggestions presented in Strategies for News Producers and learn from the experience of other trainers in Strategies for Journalism Trainers.