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: 3.1 (2008: N/A; 2011: 2.5) 2.7 All media fairly represent the voices of both women and men. Years of advocacy for the rights of women and other minorities have produced positive results in the Nigerian media. Compared to just a few years ago, the voices of women have gained greater prominence in news reports and programs. Many newsrooms and editors have become “gender sensitive” even in their choice of words. Broadcasters have dedicated airtime and newspapers special pages and columns to discuss issues of interest to women. However, bias against women has not completely gone away. Men’s views are still favoured by media when discussing “important” issues like politics, business, conflicts and current affairs. Even though women and children are the main victims of the ongoing armed conflict in the north of the country, news reports hardly reflect this reality. The persistence of gender stereotypes in the media is a reflection of overall society. Outspoken women are considered pompous and tagged by their peers as seekers of cheap fame. Because of this type of labelling, most women are unwilling to take the floor and address issues that affect them. “Women need clearance to enter the public space, but men do not need such clearance,” a panellist explained. Politics is the sector in which women’s voice is most absent. Media coverage of politics is dominated by men, in part because women lack the financial means and notoriety needed to transform oneself into a newsmaker. Even in homes where both the husband and wife are politicians, there is a tendency for the man to seek to outshine the woman and occupy higher office, even if the woman is better qualified. 32 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NIGERIA 2015