SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.5 (2008 = n/a) 2.7 All media fairly reflect the voices of both women and men. There is increasing awareness in the Nigerian media of the need to give women a voice. Women are increasingly being sought for interviews, and the number of specialised programmes and reports that depict women in a negative way are steadily decreasing. But many obstacles, including social, cultural, religious and even political stereotypes still stand in the way of real progress in gender mainstreaming in the Nigerian media. As it “The media emerged from the 2011 elections, women running for public office do not sit often get less coverage than their male counterparts or opponents. Rampant “cash and carry” journalism (a reference to reporting down and that is conditioned and driven by the amount of money paid by a decide to news source or an interested party in a story to the reporter on the beat to distort or kill the story) also means that women who are relegate generally less financially well to do are consequently less attractive women.” as news sources compared to their rich male counterparts. Panellists pointed out women’s voices have also been weakened by the attitude of women themselves, as few are outgoing and/or willing to stand media scrutiny. “The media do not sit down and decide to relegate women. Women simply do not want to talk,” said one panellist. 26 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2011