On International Women’s Day 2026, a sample analysis of reporting grants awarded by the Women in News (WIN) Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) reveals a stark disparity in coverage of conflict, with women’s experiences significantly underrepresented despite making up half of those affected.
The WIN team’s analysis, focused on content produced by 80 women journalists in Ukraine and Gaza, found that these narratives contribute to a more nuanced global understanding of conflict, enriching conventional war reporting by highlighting the social, economic, and human consequences experienced differently across gender lines. Stories produced through the SIRI program were published across Palestinian, Arab, and international platforms.
However, broader global research indicates a systemic issue. A 2024 report by CARE found that media coverage of conflicts increased more than six-fold between 2013 and 2023, yet only 5% of articles focused on women’s experiences in war, with a mere 0.3% portraying women positively. A 2022 analysis by International Media Support (IMS) of coverage of the war in Ukraine revealed that women accounted for only 23% of the experts, protagonists, or sources quoted in news stories.
The underrepresentation extends beyond simply being included in stories. A 2023 study by Bridgewater State University’s Journal of International Women’s Studies found that when women are included in conflict reporting, they are often portrayed in narrow, stereotypical roles – primarily as victims or caregivers, rather than as decision-makers or active agents.
Data from WAN-IFRA WIN’s 2024 Gender Balance in Content report suggests that women-owned and women-led media organizations perform significantly better on gender representation metrics. Among 83 outlets analyzed globally, the 12 women-led organizations recorded an average gender balance score of 30.25%, compared with 22.70% across the full sample. In five women-founded outlets, women appeared as main characters in 44.2% of coverage – almost double the overall average.
This improved representation is linked to leadership within newsrooms. The WIN Leadership Mapping 2024 report underscores a persistent leadership gap, with women holding just under one in three top editorial posts and fewer than one in five business lead positions. This disparity affects story selection, sourcing practices, and overall newsroom priorities, particularly during crises.
According to UNESCO and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), ensuring women journalists can continue their profession requires context- and gender-responsive support. The organizations are currently working with five newsrooms globally to enhance gender-sensitive safety policies.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) research indicates that online attacks disproportionately target women journalists, particularly those covering gender issues, women’s rights, and gender-based violence. These attacks often seize the form of sexist, sexualized, and threatening messages, impacting mental health, physical safety, and professional reputation. A 2025 study by the NGO Women in Media and UNESCO found that 81% of Ukrainian women journalists reported experiencing online violence, yet only 64% identified these incidents as attacks.
The WIN team’s analysis of the SIRI program’s impact on coverage of the Gaza war is ongoing, with further reports scheduled for release later in 2026.