A key task of the media is to reflect the diversity in society. However, research shows that there are great imbalances among the people who produce and distribute the news we consume. Today’s news media are dominated by men – including in the Nordic countries.

In addition, the share of decision-makers in the media sector who are women is far smaller than 50%, and women are also underrepresented as consulted experts in the news.

For example, did you know that in some Nordic countries, only one-fifth of those who are involved in the news media are women? And the presence of women in the news media seems to actually be decreasing rather than increasing. This knowledge needs to be disseminated so that more newsrooms become aware of the imbalance and of who gets to speak their mind in the news. This topic is addressed in one of the three films.

Watch it here.

Online hate speech, consiting of threats, harassment and sexist remarks on the internet, may silence many voices and is another important issue in the public space. Female journalists are particularly vulnerable. In fact, every third female editorial writer, columnist, editor-in-chief and commentator is thinking about quitting their jobs due to threats, intimidation and other forms of harassment.

This is a threat to the public debate and thus to the entire democratic system. For the first time ever, the Nordic national discrimination ombudsmen are currently working together in a fund project to end the online hate speech problem. Tougher legislation is one of their proposed solutions.

Watch the film here.

The objective of a gender-equal society is also counteracted by gender-stereotyped representations of women and men in the public space. Sexist advertising creates unrealistically narrow media images of women and men and the increasing sexualisation of the public space is restricting the range of role models that are available to girls and boys.

Nevertheless, Nordic businesses can continue to engage in sexist marketing schemes practically without risking any legal consequences. Therefore, three Nordic organisations have decided to join forces and urge the public to act as a watchdog and report sexist advertising.

Watch the film here.

The Nordic gender equality cooperation has contributed to increased knowledge and intensified collaboration between the countries. Conferences, meetings, research and reports are making us more knowledgeable and thus are bringing us closer to the goal of a gender-equal Nordic region.