Women and the Media

This past year has been a year of intense interest in the treatment of women working in the media and the treatment of women by the media, particularly following the allegations against high profile media moguls like Harvey Wienstein and Matt Lauer. Closer to home, the allegations, trial and subsequent acquittal of Jian Ghomeshi pushed the CBC into the headlines with women coming forward to talk about their own #metoo issues.

Dr. Shannon Sampert will look at the media treatment of women in this day-long session, drawing upon her research findings and her own experiences as a journalist to discuss the sexism in the newsroom and sexism in the news. The session will be divided into two parts. The morning will examine the newsroom as a social space and the role of women in the newsroom. Are women managers still an anomaly and if so, how does that shape the agenda of news and the treatment of women? The afternoon will examine the coverage of women in the news, with a particular look at women in politics. Do the media still rely on stereotypical tropes to describe women in positions of power?