In the Balance is a resource center for journalists, to help them make their reporting more inclusive of women’s perspectives and voices, and more representative of the world we live in by applying a gender-lens approach.

Just like a lens can help the eye see better, a “gender lens” allows us to consider the powers at play that have to do with gender in any given situation. Applied to journalism, this means taking into account how gender affects people and events at all stages of producing a news story, to ensure a fuller, more nuanced picture, and richer, more informative news where the audience feels included.

It seems like the most obvious step to take, but we all know it can be tough to find new, credible sources. Luckily, there is a growing number of databases indexing women experts. We’ve put together a list of some of those, as well as a list of helpful grassroots initiatives and organizations for you. Maybe it’ll spark some ideas, and help save you some time.

Oftentimes, research is reported on for a main finding that is deemed newsworthy at one time. But nested in reports and studies are details and bits of information that can spark an idea for a story. Want to start digging? We have a selection for you on a variety of topics to get you started exploring how gender intesects with all beats.

Many journalists all over the world have been doing this work for years. Yet, gender-sensitive journalism remains underrecognized and sometimes, even, misunderstood. To help you get a more concrete sense of what it means to apply the gender lens throughout different stages of the journalistic process, we compiled some advice from renowned reporters and editors.

Untold Stories: Experts’ POVs> View all articles

Osprey Orielle Lake, founder of WECAN International (© Erik McGregor)

Osprey Orielle Lake: “There Is a Real Lack in Gender Reporting on the Climate Crisis”

Untold stories

The founder of Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network International shares her COP27 expectations and hopes, and a few resources to better tackle the gender angle when covering climate stories.

Monica McWilliams

Monica McWilliams on Women Contributing to Peace in Northern Ireland and Beyond

Untold stories

The academic and former peace negotiator talks about her journey navigating politics and sexism, what has evolved in how women are viewed during conflicts, and what lessons we can draw from the past.

A technician washes arrays used in genome-wide association studies at the Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory, in Maryland, the United States. (National Cancer Institute / Unsplash)

Women in STEM and the Power of Mass Media

Untold stories

When trying to understand why science, tech, engineering, and math remain so male-dominated, it’s necessary to examine how we interact with them through culture.

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Peer-to-Peer: Hear from experienced journalists> Access all episodes

Our “Peer-to-Peer” series is back! In this first episode of season 2, we talk about gender journalism and it means in 2023 with the editor of “Impact,” a newsletter at the intersection of politics and gender.

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For our first episode of “Peer-to-Peer,” we sat down with former gender director at the New York Times Francesca Donner for tips on how to produce more layered stories.

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The award-winning science journalist and author tells about the steps he’s taken to make his stories more inclusive, and how that fundamentally changed his reporting over the past eight years. He also shares some of what he has learned telling the stories of women amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Gender in the News: Analyses & Examples> View all articles

Hot Off the Press: The Gender Data Gap

In the Newsroom

Here’s a selection of pieces that caught our attention in relation to the “gender data gap,” our focus theme in February 2023.

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Miriam Wells

Why Impact Should Be at the Heart of the Newsroom

In the Newsroom

Impact editor Miriam Wells has contributed to shifting the newsroom culture at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to embed impact at every stage of the editorial process. She explains how strategizing for impact is a game-changer, and shares some tips.

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Hot Off the Press: Women & Economic News

In the Newsroom

Here’s a selection of pieces that caught our attention in relation to “women and economic news,” our focus theme in January 2023.

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Newsletter: The gender lens in action, one theme at a time> View all newsletters

Not to be all doom and gloom, but the next pandemic might be right around the corner, experts warn – it’s “inevitable.” We’ve heard of Disease X in the last few months, and although no clear global threat has been identified for now (despite the current worldwide cholera outbreaks), the world isn’t equipped to face another global pandemic quite yet.

It’s tough when, in the wake of an election where populism triumphs, we’re reminded how big of a role and responsibility journalism holds in what happens in society. We might avoid thinking about it on the daily or even somehow momentarily forget, but when the results of a ballot are confirmed, we have to face the facts: The news industry played a part in this outcome.

2024 is an election year in over 80 countries. Nearly half the global population has already voted or is expected to in the next eight months. Whether local, national, or international, these ballots are connected to the broader world context. While the top concerns for potential electors seem to be inflation, poverty, and social inequality, many politicians have chosen to put migration (once again) on their list of priorities when campaigning.


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Data & Reports: Follow the thread> View all articles

(Source: The Global Media Monitoring Project)

As Seen in the News: Women & Pop Culture

Data & Studies

A look at how much the news covers popular culture, and what place is given to women in these spaces.

Women & Climate: Six Hard-Hitting Figures

Data & Studies

Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities. Here are some key numbers that show some of the ways it affects women. For contrast, we also take a look at a couple of figures of how (under-)represented women are at leadership roles.

(Source: The Global Media Monitoring Project)

Business and Finance are the Least Inclusive Sections in the News

Data & Studies

Women are underrepresented in the news, especially in economy-related stories. Here are the big picture numbers you need.


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