Women in media unconvinced by gender equality progress

Perth Now

6 hours ago

Women are being driven out of the media industry by financial pressures, stalled growth and lack of progress on gender equity.
Career dissatisfaction among women has risen to 59 per cent, the highest level in four years, according to the Women in Media Industry Insight Report 2025 released on Monday.
Pay has overtaken all other factors as the leading driver of women leaving their jobs, with 29 per cent citing it as their primary concern.
One in three women is considering leaving their job and nearly half are looking to exit the industry altogether.
Despite law reforms requiring employers to publish gender pay gaps and improve respect in the workplace, 74 per cent of women said their employer had not taken clear action to address pay disparities.
Almost 80 per cent said there had been no meaningful improvement to culture or safety in the workplace.
The report showed women working in the media were unconvinced about gender equality efforts, lead author and Women in Media strategic advisor Petra Buchanan said.
It also showed a disconnect between efforts being made by the industry and how employees perceived them.
"The media shapes our public narratives and is pivotal in how women are represented," she told AAP.
"There's a lot of conversation about gender equality but women aren't feeling it in the workplace."
Nearly 40 per cent of women surveyed were considering quitting, with this trend highest among mid-career and senior women.
Lack of opportunities for promotion and managerial support were noted as the top career barriers.
There are also major structural imbalances in leadership in Australian media.
Despite women making up 41 per cent of the workforce, they hold just 23 per cent of chief executive and managing director roles.
The average gender pay gap in the media is 10 per cent, with 16.4 per cent in publishing and 11.8 per cent in broadcasting.
"Women are calling on media employers to lead with intent and communicate how they are addressing workplace issues, from closing the gender pay gap to implementing meaningful structural and cultural reform," Ms Buchanan said.
"Employer and industry action is essential to address inequity and ensure women thrive.
"Now is the time for Australian media organisations to double down, not step back, from their equality commitments."