Welcome to my third media chronicle, which I drew from the Digital Media Innovation Program (DIMP). DIMP is Jamii Media’s capacity-building initiative for online media. It has been instrumental in developing journalists’ skills and professionalism to improve business management and financial sustainability. This program has opened up a whole new experience, and some of the learnings are worth sharing.
Women in the media industry in Tanzania face structural, social, and cultural exclusion, which is evident in their underrepresentation in key areas of media, the lack of gender-just media practices, policies, and programming, and the existence of a gender digital divide. One case that highlights this issue is of a female media owner who started an online platform but had to involve her husband, who had no experience in media, to help formalize the digital media business. Whenever she had to travel or participate in media-related events, her husband insisted on representing her instead of her, the professional journalist and co-owner, despite having no professional media background.
Additionally, there have been situations where women in the media cannot travel unless they can arrange childcare support, such as bringing along a nanny to care for their infant children. While many sectors have become more inclusive, the media industry has been slow to create an environment conducive to gender equality.
The challenges go beyond gender bias in hiring and promotions. Women journalists frequently deal with workplace discrimination, unequal pay, and societal expectations that restrict their ability to report freely—especially on political and investigative stories. Cultural norms, lack of mentorship, and limited access to opportunities further widen the gap. Why is Tanzania’s media still failing women, and what needs to change?
The Lack of Inclusiveness in the Media Agenda
One of the central issues limiting women’s participation in the Tanzanian media is the absence of an agenda that promotes gender inclusion. For instance, Jamii Media conducted gender mainstreaming training in 20 community radio stations (CRS), which revealed a striking underrepresentation of women.
In most cases, women journalists who attended such training lacked the power to effectively advocate for women’s voices because the stations were predominantly led by men, with male editors and managers. Women’s absence from decision-making processes that shape the media agenda has resulted in a lack of representation of women’s perspectives and voices.
The male-dominated structure of media houses perpetuates this disparity, as fewer women are trained, promoted, or hired. This makes it difficult for female journalists to negotiate their presence in these settings. When they do, their impact is often constrained by deeply rooted gender norms.
Male-Dominated Leadership
Tanzania’s media sector presents a glass ceiling that prevents women from ascending to leadership roles.
Although women comprise about 40% of all media staff in Tanzania, they hold only 21% of top management positions and 20% of senior management roles—far below the average in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), according to the Glass Ceiling Study.
Male journalists are more likely to be contracted on a permanent, full-time basis and assigned a broader range of topics, further entrenching gender disparities in the sector. Women in leadership positions are often given ceremonial or proxy roles, serving as public faces for male superiors rather than possessing actual decision-making power.
This undermines gender equality in decision-making and hampers the development of policies that prioritize women-specific issues. The absence of women in leadership positions perpetuates a male-dominated culture that dictates which stories are told, by whom, and whose voices are heard. As a result, women’s voices are marginalized, and issues affecting them are frequently dismissed or relegated to less prominent time slots.
Male-Centric Programming and the Marginalization of Women’s Issues
Tanzanian media’s content often reflects a male-centric bias, further alienating women and their concerns from mainstream discussions. Programs designed specifically for women tend to focus on superficial topics such as gossip, fashion, and cooking while ignoring more critical social and political issues.
Important subjects such as financial inclusion, healthcare, and education are often relegated to off-hours when fewer people are likely to watch. This gendered approach not only misrepresents the issues women face but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about gender roles.
These programs often trivialize women’s issues by using humour to address them, neglecting systemic problems like unpaid work, education, and gender-based violence. Interestingly, even a few programs aimed at women are often more popular with male listeners, raising whether the content truly reflects what women want or merely echoes male perspectives.
Gender Disparities in Media Employment
The Glass Ceiling Study also highlights the differences in employment patterns between male and female journalists in Tanzania. Although women comprise 40% of the media workforce, they account for only 28% of journalistic roles, with many working in TV reporting. In contrast, print media, which has fewer female employees, is known for higher editorial and investigative depth, which is often associated with quality journalism.
These disparities suggest that women are typecast into more visible roles but offer little editorial control or in-depth reporting opportunities. This issue is further compounded by the fact that men represent 80% of the authors of gender-related content.
The Way Forward
The underrepresentation of women in Tanzania’s media industry requires targeted action to break the structural, social, and cultural barriers that hinder their full participation.
- Reinforce Women’s Ownership of Media Outlets: The media sector in Tanzania is primarily dominated by men, with only a few women in decision-making positions. Women-owning media outlets would create space to set editorial agendas that amplify women’s voices and ensure that issues affecting women and girls are brought to the forefront. This would also promote diversity in programming and foster more balanced and unbiased reporting.
- Empower Women Journalists with Digital Skills: To thrive in the digital age, women journalists must possess the necessary media literacy and technical skills to produce and publish content independently. Many women in Tanzania’s media still rely on men for assistance with filming, editing, and publishing their stories, perpetuating inequality. Empowering women with digital skills will foster greater independence and reduce gender disparities in the industry.
- Implement Gender-Sensitive Policies: Media organizations should adopt gender-sensitive policies that promote an enabling environment for women. These policies should address equal pay, gender-based harassment, and the fair distribution of roles and assignments.
- Leverage Community Radio Stations: Community radio stations, mainly in rural areas, can play a decisive role in directly involving women in media production and storytelling. Women-focused community radio stations provide a platform for women to share their stories, assert their rights, and challenge the barriers hindering their progress.
- Increase Female Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making Positions: Empowering women in leadership can be achieved through mentorship programs, where experienced female journalists guide younger ones in their careers. Media organizations should adopt affirmative action policies that promote the recruitment, training, and promotion of women to senior management positions.
By addressing these issues, Tanzania’s media industry can make significant strides toward greater gender equality and inclusivity, creating a more diverse and representative media landscape for all.
I hope you have enjoyed this third chronicle which is a series from the first, and second chronicles. Until the next time. Stay tuned.