menu
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839
zamknij
Work In Media image

12.05.2025 Media industry

Women in media 2025. Editorial power knows no equality

KFi

Only 27% of editors-in-chief in the media are women, even though they make up 40% of journalists. In 9 out of 12 countries studied by the Reuters Institute, women in media are less likely to get promoted. It seems that equality in newsrooms is lagging behind broader society. And the gaps go much further.
Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

Women in media 2025. Editorial power knows no equalityillustration: DALL-E

The latest report "Women and Leadership in the News Media 2025: Evidence from 12 Markets", authored by dr Amy Ross Arguedas, Mitali Mukherjee and prof. Rasmus Kleis Nielsen from the Reuters Institute, paints a picture of stagnation and resistance to gender equality in journalism. Even though women make up an average of 40% of newsroom staff across the studied countries, they hold just 27% of editor-in-chief roles.

Symbolic growth, not systemic change


The change compared to 2024 is only three percentage points - back then, women made up 24%. While this is the highest level since the study began in 2020 (23%), it`s far from a breakthrough. Reality still favors men, even in countries where women outnumber men in journalism.

Year Percentage of Women in Top Editorial Roles
2020 23%
2024 24%
2025 27%


The average annual turnover rate for editors-in-chief from 2021 to 2025 was 19%. Between 2024 and 2025, 14% of editorial positions changed hands - less than in previous years, signaling a slowdown.

However, 34% of new appointments went to women. That`s up from 24% the year before. Among brands included in the sample for the first time, women made up 38% of top editorial roles. Still, these figures fall short of parity.

Global differences. Newsroom disparities


Country-by-country variation is significant. The United Kingdom topped the list this year - surpassing the United States for the first time. South Korea had the lowest percentage of female editors-in-chief - just 7%.

Percentage of Women in Editorial Leadership (2025):

  • United Kingdom - 46%
  • South Africa - 38%
  • USA - 38%
  • Finland - 36%
  • South Korea - 7%

Japan saw the biggest leadership shake-up (26%), boosting women`s share by 17 percentage points - from 8% to 25%. Meanwhile, South Korea recorded a 6-point drop. These two countries were the main drivers behind the global average shift.

In many countries, women represent a large share of the journalism workforce, but they are underrepresented in newsroom leadership. In nine out of twelve analyzed markets, women reach the top less often.


The study draws on data from the Worlds of Journalism report, which highlights the gap between the number of women in journalism and those in leadership. The biggest disparities are in Brazil (28 pp), South Africa and Kenya (24 pp each), and Mexico (21 pp).

  • Brazil: 49% of journalists are women, but only 21% are editors-in-chief
  • South Africa: 62% of journalists are women, just 38% are editors-in-chief
  • Mexico: 44% of journalists are women, only 23% are editors-in-chief

These numbers show that advancement in media structures isn`t just about how many women are in the profession - it`s about structural barriers that block career paths.

Women in public media


Meanwhile, the PSM Diversity Strategies 2025 report by the European Broadcasting Union, published in March 2025, shows that public broadcasters in Europe are increasingly effective in promoting gender equality. Women accounted for 45% of employees and 46% of leadership roles, and half of all 2023 promotions went to women. Gender balance was the most developed area of DEI efforts - 79% of organizations reported active work in this field.

While the results are promising, the issue still starts at the top. Women remain less likely to reach boards and the highest decision-making positions. Structural barriers, resistance to change, and entrenched organizational culture mean that even where gender parity looks close, power still rests mostly with men. These findings align with the later Reuters Institute report, which shows that commercial media are even further behind.

SELF PROMOTION. Listen to the story of Oriana Fallaci. Discover our #mediaHISTORY podcast

The EBU also points out that efforts focus mostly on gender and disability, while other diversity areas - like race, orientation, or religion - are addressed less systematically. This shows that even though public media have achieved more than the private sector, their strategies are still not fully balanced and need further development.

Gender in newsrooms vs. gender in society


One of the most striking conclusions of the Reuters Institute report is the lack of correlation between gender equality in society and the presence of women in newsroom leadership. Even countries that score high in the UN Gender Inequality Index, like Finland, don`t offer equal chances at the top of journalism.

This means that the media follow their own rules - not always aligned with social progress. The report highlights exclusion mechanisms specific to the industry, including sexist norms, verbal and physical abuse, and "boys` club" cultures, as described by Blumell and Mulupi in their research on the Kenyan market.

The Reuters Institute again looked at how many internet users consume content produced by women-led newsrooms.

  • In Kenya, that share rose by 21 percentage points over the year - from 32% to 53%.
  • In Japan and the UK, it increased by 13 percentage points each.
  • In South Korea, it dropped by 12 points - reflecting a broader national decline.

While the report documents modest progress, the authors stress that equality is still a long way off. One-year changes aren’t enough to define a lasting trend. Especially in countries like the US, where DEI programs are increasingly under scrutiny. The rollback of such efforts in public institutions and media companies may stall or reverse positive change in the years ahead.

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK
Work In Media

New articles in section Media industry

Paid journalistic content. Market trends and forecasts by Reuters Institute

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Only 18 percent of internet users pay for online news access, and the rate has not increased for the third year in a row. Norway sets records with 42%, while Greece does not exceed 7%. Globally, nearly one in three subscribers cancels after a year.

Gen Alpha avoids tough topics. What young people are really looking for

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Generation Alpha prefers humor in 46% of cases, while only 12% are interested in news and political topics. Young people and children consciously limit what negatively affects their emotions - according to the report "Gen Alpha Unfiltered" published by GWI.

YouTube redefines viewer engagement. Goodbye to returning viewers

KFi
As many as 30% of internet users now turn to YouTube as their main news source, and 65% consume news in video form. Now the platform is shaking things up. Reach still matters, but engagement is what really counts.


See articles on a similar topic:

Trust in social media. Youtube beats TikTok and X

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Do we really trust social media? A new study reveals major differences in how top platforms are rated. Trust goes where there's authenticity, not just algorithms. The role of people is growing while brand influence is fading.

Safari Surpasses Opera. A New Shift in the Browser Market in Poland

Krzysztof Fiedorek
In the summer of 2024, a historic event occurred in Poland's browser market. In July and August, Safari surpassed Opera on all devices for the first time. Data from the StatCounter report indicates that Apple's browser maintains a steady market share while Opera is gradually but noticeably losing ground.

Mass Media in Poland

Agnieszka Osińska
Into the decade of years 90. Poland entered with media national, subjected to the political control. Starting from the half of 1989 our media market underwent transformations, biggest probably from the time of the World War II.

Trends in Media and Entertainment. DataArt Predictions for 2019

KF
Increasing consumption of content on mobile devices, growing demand for on-demand services, and the rapid development of user-generated content are the trends expected to dominate the tech sector in 2019, according to DataArt, a global technology consulting firm.

More in the section: Media industry

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement

Flying Tiger




community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.



Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisementMedia Review 24/7
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25