Research

Gender Links’ cutting-edge research generates evidence to fuel advocacy, inform journalism training and influence media policy across Southern Africa. Our research spans content analysis, institutional audits, audience perspectives, and thematic issues such as online gender-based violence (OGBV), media diversity and freedom of expression.

Flagship Gender and Media Progress Study (GMPS)

The GMPS is a pioneering longitudinal study conducted every five years since 2003, tracking progress on gender equality in news content and media institutions across 14 SADC countries. Insights from the GMPS has provided essential insight for media activism in the region.

• Monitors gender in media content, newsrooms, education, and institutions, as well as how the media covers issues like SRHR, political participation, gender-based violence and economic justice.
• Latest GMPS 2020 found that women make up only 21% of news sources, up from 17% in 2003 – showing incremental progress and persistent underrepresentation.

What We Research

Gender Links’ gender in media research covers:

• Media content analysis: Examining thousands of news stories across media platforms to monitor who speaks, portrayal, stereotypes and how gender issues are framed – especially key topics like SRHR, politics, economic participation and gender-based violence.
• Institutional audits: Gender audits assessing newsroom practices, editorial decision-making, leadership, and gender policies in media houses.
• Regulatory reviews: exploring media regulators and press councils support – or neglect – of gender equality through codes of conduct, complaints mechanisms and licensing practices.
• Education and training assessments: Working with journalism and media studies departments to evaluate gender in journalism curricula, namely through the Gender in Media Education (GIME) network.
• Global and regional collaboration: Partnering with global monitoring initiatives, such as Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) playing an essential role leading Southern African input and shaping global conversations on gender and media.

Research highlights