SECTOR 4

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:

3.6 (2010:2.8; 2007:3.7)

4.4 Equal opportunities regardless of race or ethnicity,
social group, gender/sex, religion, disabilities and age
are promoted in media houses.
Uganda fared well in the 2011 Global Report on the Status of Women in the
News Media, published by the International Women’s Media Foundation, which
surveyed eight Ugandan media houses – two newspapers, two television stations
and four radio stations18.
“Though women are slightly outnumbered by men in Ugandan newsrooms
surveyed, they have managed to secure moderate to excellent access to
all occupational levels”, the study said. “Women are half of those in top
management and nearly half (48.4%) of those in governance. They are similarly
well represented in middle and top level management and in the journalistic ranks
of junior and senior professional levels.”
However, the survey found that men in high earning, decision-making positions
were paid significantly more than their female counterparts. Meanwhile, “most
Ugandan news companies surveyed have adopted a range of policies to advance
gender equality”.
The issue of opportunities for sexual minorities is less straightforward. “Recently
our boss created a stir by asking how we would feel if we hired a lesbian or gay.
People protested. But it is in our policy, and we have to deal with it.”
The Daily Monitor, KFM, and MTV “have no segregation”. “We have openly gay
reporters. We do not discriminate. At The Daily Monitor we have one female
editor out of five editors, and four female sub-editors out of seven subs. There is
a balance of male and female reporters. The HR department does have a policy to
promote equal opportunities.”
18 Sourced from: http://iwmf.org/pioneering-change/global-research-on-women-in-the-news-media.aspx

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2012

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