SECTOR 2 Despite progress over the years, the voices of men are still dominant in news coverage. Panellists said social and cultural practices that relegate women to the shadows of society are partly responsible for the scarcity of women’s voices in the media. ‘Few of them are willing to speak up, even when approached for interviews.’ The representation of women in the media also reflects a society that is strongly patriarchal. In general, men dominate the public space and control the narrative and agenda of public discourse and media coverage. When women’s issues make it to the media, they are presented through the lens of men and tend to be sensational and depreciatory. Panellists stated that the media also practises passive discrimination against women. During political campaigns, for example, male candidates tend to get more coverage than their female counterparts. ‘There are a few powerful women willing to speak but who are not given the opportunity,’ said one panellist. The media has failed to challenge stereotypes about women and instead participates in propagating them: When the president banned pregnant teenage girls from school, the media ran with the story without questioning such a controversial policy. When they do report about women, they are portrayed as victims. The stories are derogatory and stereotypical. A few media outlets have made deliberate policy changes to increase the voices of women. For example, local correspondents and producers of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are required to include female sources in their reporting and productions. Community radios have also made changes over the years to increase the voices of and the coverage of subjects that are of interest to women. 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: Score of previous years: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓ 2.1 2006: n/a; 2008: n/a; 2010: 2.7; 2012: 3.4; 2015: 2.6 2.8 All media fairly represent the diversity of voices of society 31 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019