Arab women and media: Exclusion from decision making positions and gender pay gap

Al Hayat newspaper published an article last Monday on the participation of women in the media professions, namely journalism.  The newspaper notes that although there are many women working in the media in Lebanon and the Arab world, and although many of them have distinguished competencies, yet, they still face gender based discrimination.  Al Hayat interviewed journalist Sana al Khoury who noted that women remain excluded from decision making positions from all major Arab media outlets.  She added that it is rare to find women who are heads of departments, editors-in-chief, or CEOs except in the case of entertainment and women magazines.  Khoury also noted that women also suffer from the fact that men are given more opportunities both at the level of pay and promotion.  Journalist Bissan al Shaykj added that the gender pay gap is a global phenomenon which is also widespread in the media sector of Lebanon.

(Source: Al-Hayat 22 December, 2014)