To mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, themed “Accelerate Action,” members of the WAN-IFRA WIN Guild, a collection of top editors and publishers from the Women in News (WIN) community, have committed themselves to a series of collective and individual actions to move the dial on gender equality in newsroom leadership.
The pledge is
in response to WAN-IFRA WIN’s latest findings: fewer than 1 in 5 CEO/Publisher
roles worldwide are held by women, while just under 1 in 3
Editor-in-Chief/Editorial Director positions are occupied by women.
From now on,
Guild members have promised to do the following as a group: encourage
mentorship programs in businesses, use the best examples of how other Guild
members have done things, and use their combined power to get rid of biased and
stereotypical portrayals of women in our media outlets.
In addition,
they are committed to championing policy changes to end discrimination,
ensuring equal opportunities (including equal pay), stopping sexual harassment,
and ensuring a safe working environment.
"This is
not just a pledge; it’s our collective commitment to turning data into action,”
said Pamella Makotsi Sittoni, former group managing editor, Nation Media Group,
Kenya, and a member of the Guild.
“We’ve spent
enough time identifying the problems. Now we’re taking control of the
solutions—together. This is about using our collective power to open up spaces
for gender parity at the leadership table.”
The guild
members call on their peers in the media sector to do the same.
The pledge’s
launch coincides with the release of WAN-IFRA WIN’s Leadership Mapping Report
for 2024, which reveals the persistent gender gap in media leadership.
While some
progress has been made, the report underscores the ongoing need for action,
showing that the highest levels of media leadership are still
disproportionately dominated by men. Women hold 24% of business and editorial
leadership positions, a modest increase from 21% in 2022.
These
findings make the Guild’s pledge even more critical—offering tangible,
actionable steps to drive meaningful change.
“Fifteen
years ago, it would not have been possible to bring together a group such as
The Guild. We simply could not see the numbers of women in media leadership.
This is a bright spot for change, and we want to harness this collective power
to accelerate our progress. With such an esteemed group of leaders to drive
this forward, we can make a real difference and inspire others to follow suit,”
said Melanie Walker, founder and executive director of WAN-IFRA WIN.
Following an
inaugural summit in Malawi in February, the WAN-IFRA WIN Guild—an initiative
that brings together senior women in media leadership from across Africa, the
Arab Region, and Southeast Asia to champion inclusion and diversity in the
industry—has developed a collective pledge aimed at driving real, systemic
change in newsrooms.
“This isn’t
just about what we say; it’s about what we do. The pledge is a living,
breathing commitment to break down these barriers,” Sittoni added.
WAN-IFRA WIN
(Women in News) is a leading global program founded in 2010 by WAN-IFRA to
advance gender equality and inclusion in the media industry.
Working with
media organizations, industry leaders, and journalists alike, WIN is now active
in more than 30 countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, Latin
America, and the Arab Region.
It believes
that inclusive newsrooms, boardrooms, and content are key to building a media
landscape that is more gender equal, inclusive, safe, and financially healthy.
WIN empowers
people and organizations to work together in support of a healthier, lasting,
and inclusive news industry. We champion equality and inclusion, amplify
underrepresented voices, and create opportunities for all who aspire to learn,
lead, and drive positive changes in the media landscape.
