Gender Equity in Journalism: Examining Hard News, Soft News and Sports Reporting in Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajc.2689Abstract
Purpose: This study explores gender equity in Tanzanian journalism, specifically examining the roles women play in hard news, soft news, and sports reporting. It seeks to understand the persistent gender-based disparities in newsroom assignments and leadership opportunities.
Materials and Methods: Using a qualitative approach, the research draws on interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions with female journalists across Tanzania, capturing both professional experiences and personal reflections.
Findings: The study reveals a consistent pattern: women are disproportionately assigned to soft news beats like lifestyle, entertainment, and human-interest stories while their male counterparts dominate the high-stakes realms of politics, crime, and sports. This isn't just about editorial preference; many women perceive it as an unspoken barrier, a form of gatekeeping rooted in implicit bias and long-standing newsroom cultures. Participants spoke candidly about missed opportunities, the constant need to prove themselves, and the emotional toll of being sidelined while watching male peers ascend. Leadership roles remain largely out of reach, making the metaphorical “glass ceiling” feel like a daily reality.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study deepens the conversation around gender in journalism by centering on the lived experiences of Tanzanian women in the profession. It calls on media organizations to go beyond token gestures, urging them to implement gender-aware editorial policies, create equitable access to mentorship and training, and confront the cultural narratives that silently shape newsroom dynamics. Equity in journalism won’t come from policy alone but from how those policies are lived out day by day.
Downloads
References
Ash, J., Smith, H., & Carter, L. (2022). Gendered newsrooms: The persistence of gender disparities in media roles. Tanzania Journal of Media Studies, 18(2), 112–129.
Binns, C. (2020). Gender, power, and representation in East African journalism. Journal of African Media Studies, 12(3), 123–139.
Binns, C. (2021). Cultural stereotypes in the newsroom: A study of Tanzanian media. Media, Culture & Society, 43(5), 821–836.
Binns, C. (2021). Gender equality in African journalism: Challenges and opportunities. Journalism Studies, 14(3), 245–259.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2023). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE Publications.
Byerly, C. M. (2013). Gender and journalism: Perspectives on gendered news production. Routledge.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2023). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th Ed.). SAGE Publications.
Durante, A., King, L., & Matthews, J. (2022). Gender and power in the newsroom: The impact of structural barriers on women journalists. Journalism and Society, 14(3), 201–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/2164723X.2022.0294561
Gallagher, M. (2020). Gender and media: Progress and challenges in media representation. Feminist Media Studies, 20(5), 687–703. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2020.1719612
Hasan, S., Zaman, R., & Uddin, M. (2021). Gender disparity in journalism: A content analysis of media representation. Journal of Media Studies, 35(2), 45–67.
Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Qualitative research in the study of gender and social change. Oxford University Press.
Hardin, M., & Shain, S. (2005). Gender and sports media: Challenges in the newsroom. Gender Studies Journal, 12(3), 32–48.
Higgins, L., & Sheppard, E. (2019). Gendered newsrooms: The struggle for equality in journalism. Gender & Media, 18(1), 35–49.
Kamweru, S., & Ochieng, P. (2019). Gender, media, and policy: A study on gender equity in African newsrooms. Journal of African Media Studies, 8(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/17529172.2019.1683623
Khamis, M. (2021). Women in Tanzanian journalism: Navigating the barriers to success. Journal of Media Studies, 15(2), 234–246.
Khamis, S. (2020). Gender and journalism in Tanzania: A critical study of newsroom dynamics. Journalism Studies, 21(7), 1040–1057.
Kigongo, E., & Kibirige, M. (2021). The role of the media in addressing gender inequality in Tanzania. Media & Gender Studies, 22(4), 99–112.
Kivuva, A. (2022). Gendered journalism: Addressing the exclusion of female journalists in hard news reporting. African Journal of Media Studies, 16(2), 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167479572273
Lind, C. J., & Stempel, G. H. (2020). Gender inequality in newsrooms: Structural factors and cultural influences. Journalism Studies, 21(3), 377–396.
Lind, C. J., & Stempel, G. H. (2020). Media organizations and gender: Addressing structural inequalities. Journal of Media Ethics, 35(2), 183–201.
Lobo, P., Silveirinha, M. J., & Torres, C. (2017). Gender dynamics in newsrooms: Barriers and opportunities for women journalists. Journal of Gender Studies, 26(4), 418–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2016.1216800
Lund, P., Andersson, H., & Swart, H. (2018). Gender equality in journalism: A global perspective. Journalism & Media Review, 22(4), 115–131.
MCT. (2017). Tanzania Media Sector Support Programme (MSSP): Challenges and policy recommendations for gender equity. Media Council of Tanzania.
Miller, C. C., & Vaccari, C. (2022). Women in journalism: Examining newsroom hierarchies and gender equity in reporting. Journalism Studies, 23(7), 899–915.
Mushi, P. (2020). Breaking barriers: Women in Tanzanian sports journalism. African Media Journal, 17(3), 80–95.
Ndlela, N. (2020). Gender, culture, and exclusion in Tanzanian journalism: The challenges of female sports reporters. Tanzania Media Journal, 7(2), 98–110.
North, L. (2016). The gendered newsroom: Women in journalism. Journalism Studies, 17(5), 623–640.
Noy, C. (2022). Sampling knowledge: The hermeneutics of purposive sampling in qualitative research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 25(3), 249–261.
Poole, G. (2019). The unequal newsroom: Gendered divisions in journalism and their impact on news content. Media, Gender, and Society, 24(1), 32–48.
Ross, K., & Padovani, C. (2019). Gender equality and the media: A challenge for Europe. Routledge.
Said, S. (2020). The intersection of gender and media practices in East Africa. Media Studies Review, 33(5), 300–315.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Smith, J., & Brown, A. (2021). Breaking the bias: Gender, media, and structural inequality in newsrooms. Media Studies Journal, 22(4), 45–60.
Smith, J., & Johnson, R. (2019). Breaking barriers: Gendered news assignments and the power of editorial decision-making. Gender & Media, 22(1), 45–62.
Smith, J., & Johnson, R. (2019). The glass ceiling in journalism: Gendered barriers in career advancement. Gender & Media, 12(4), 510–528.
TAMWA. (2018). Women journalists in Tanzania: A study of barriers to participation in hard news and sports. Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA).
UNESCO. (2012). Gender-sensitive indicators for media: Framework for assessing progress towards gender equality in media organizations. UNESCO.
Van Zoonen, L. (1994). Feminist media studies. SAGE Publications.
Yin, H. (2018). Journalism, gender, and power in East Africa. African Journal of Communication, 14(2), 160–174.
Yin, H. (2018). The gendered newsroom: Shaping media through editorial practices. African Journalism Review, 13(4), 72–85.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Hoyce Anderson Temu, Prof. Ndeti Ndati

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.