These are slides which accompanied a presentation given at the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto for a conference focused on gender equity issues.

1. gender equity and media monitoring
university of st. michael’s college
university of toronto
10 march 2017

2. brief outline
• who am I?
• a few theological catalysts for this work
• who is the WACC?
• what is the global media monitoring project?
• why does it matter?
• what can we learn from it?

3. my context here and in Minnesota

4. “In the digital world, transmitting information increasingly
means making it known within a social network where
knowledge is shared in the context of personal exchanges.
The clear distinction between the producer and
consumer of information is relativized and
communication appears not only as an exchange of
data, but also as a form of sharing. This dynamic has
contributed to a new appreciation of communication itself,
which is seen first of all as dialogue, exchange, solidarity and
the creation of positive relations.”
Pope Benedict

5. “While the speed with which the new technologies have evolved in
terms of their efficiency and reliability is rightly a source of wonder,
their popularity with users should not surprise us, as they respond
to a fundamental desire of people to communicate and to relate to
each other. This desire for communication and friendship is
rooted in our very nature as human beings and cannot be
adequately understood as a response to technical innovations. In
the light of the biblical message, it should be seen primarily as a
reflection of our participation in the communicative and unifying
Love of God, who desires to make of all humanity one family.
When we find ourselves drawn towards other people, when we
want to know more about them and make ourselves known to
them, we are responding to God’s call - a call that is imprinted in
our nature as beings created in the image and likeness of God, the
God of communication and communion.”
Pope Benedict

6. “For this to happen, we must first listen. Communicating
means sharing, and sharing demands listening and
acceptance. Listening is much more than simply hearing.
Hearing is about receiving information, while listening is
about communication, and calls for closeness. Listening
allows us to get things right, and not simply to be passive
onlookers, users or consumers. Listening also means being
able to share questions and doubts, to journey side by
side, to banish all claims to absolute power and to put
our abilities and gifts at the service of the common
good.”
Pope Francis

7. World Association for Christian Communication

8. “The World Association for Christian Communication
(WACC) is a non-governmental organisation that builds
on communication rights in order to promote social
justice. Today, we offer guidance and support to people
of all faiths, ethnicities, and cultures worldwide.”

10. global media monitoring project is…
• run every five years by volunteers
• codes for basic overall representation (as experts and
spokespersons, as news reporters and presenters, etc.)
• then codes in four categories: stereotypes which present women
and men in blatantly sexist ways; subtle stereotypes which normalize
constrictive gender roles (only presenting men as candidates, for
instance, even when women are active candidates); gender blind
stories (stories which could have been enriched by including more
viewpoints); challenging gender roles in construct ways
• produces reports which are shared with policy makers and others
involved with news media

11. why does this matter?
(look at infographic)

12. what can you do?

13. try the quiz: http://whomakesthenews.org/advocacy/end-news-
media-sexism-by-2020/quiz

14. ways to get involved…
• be intentional about sharing out in your own feeds positive
images and news
• encourage people to challenge stereotypes in their feeds
• diversify your news sources to include media which
proactively challenge stereotypes (look for long form
journalism, seek out diverse sources, etc.)
• join the GMMP!
• become a media advocate: http://whomakesthenews.org/
advocacy/media-advocacy-toolkit

16. citations:
Who makes the news?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT5dj-EdXKc
Pope Benedict, 45th World Communications Day message: http://
w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/communications/
documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20110124_45th-world-communications-day.html
Pope Benedict, 43rd World Communications Day message: http://
w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/communications/
documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20090124_43rd-world-communications-day.html
Pope Francis, 50th World Communications Day message: https://
w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/
papa-francesco_20160124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html
WACC news quiz: http://whomakesthenews.org/advocacy/end-news-media-
sexism-by-2020/quiz
Youtube Intl Women’s Day: https://youtu.be/bdX55I9WHDw

17. more info:
meh.religioused.org
mhess@religioused.org