Mainstreaming Gender into Broadcast Programming through Data
gender-mainstreaming fellowship for broadcast journalists
- Status
- Completed
- AIR approach
- Access, Insight, Resourcing
- FRAME
- Representation and Governance
- Implemented in
What we’re doing
The Mainstreaming Gender into Broadcast Programming project was designed to address gaps in gender data, gender-sensitive reporting, and the capacity of subnational broadcast media to integrate gender perspectives into news and development programming. The project recognised that broadcast media, particularly at the subnational level, has extensive grassroots reach but has received comparatively limited investment in data journalism and gender reporting.
The project established the Dataphyte Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship, combining training, mentorship, gender data access, and practical content production to equip broadcast journalists with the skills to develop compelling, data-driven gender stories. Journalists were trained in sourcing gender data, data analysis, developing story ideas from data, and producing broadcast content that incorporates gender evidence.
Across two cohorts, journalists from multiple states produced gender-focused programmes in English and indigenous languages, covering issues including women's economic empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, political representation, health, social protection, and other socioeconomic issues. The project also facilitated community radio engagements and provided fellows with gender data covering areas such as health, budgets, elections, unemployment, and gender-based violence.
The intervention ultimately demonstrated how gender data, broadcast journalism, local-language programming, and community engagement can be combined to bring gender issues into mainstream public conversations and connect audiences with opportunities for support, accountability, and action.
Evidence that leads to action
Designed to create practical, accountable, and lasting public value.
Strengthened Capacity of Broadcast Journalists
Trained broadcast journalists to source, interpret, and use gender data in reporting, enabling them to produce more data-driven and gender-sensitive programming.
Expanded Gender Data Use in Broadcast Media
Provided journalists with socioeconomic and gender-specific data on issues including maternal and child health, family planning, women's political representation, unemployment, and sexual and gender-based violence, which became a foundation for programme development.
Increased Gender-Focused Broadcast Content
Fellowship participants produced programmes addressing gender and development issues, including sexual and gender-based violence, women's economic empowerment, political participation, and emerging gender concerns.
Expanded Reach Through Local-Language Programming
Supported production of gender-focused programmes in Hausa, Yoruba, Fulfulde, and Pidgin English, enabling gender issues and data-driven narratives to reach underserved and grassroots audiences.
Strengthened Women's Visibility and Representation in Media
Fellowship programming created platforms for women to share experiences, discuss policy and development issues, and participate in public conversations that are often underrepresented in traditional media coverage.
Enabled Direct Support for Women and Girls
Broadcast programmes generated concrete audience responses and connections to support services. For example, programmes on sexual and gender-based violence resulted in nine women and girls receiving support and legal assistance from partner organisations, while another broadcast connected a 15-year-old survivor with a state gender-based violence agency.
Connected Women Entrepreneurs to Support Opportunities
A fellowship programme identifying women entrepreneurs led to the creation of a small trust, in collaboration with station management, to mobilise support from listeners and engage state actors on inclusion in government support schemes.
Strengthened Public Awareness of Gender-Based Violence
Gender-focused programmes generated direct audience engagement, including more than 20 post-programme enquiries following an episode on female genital mutilation and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.
Strengthened Community-Level Gender Dialogue
Four radio-based community engagements created spaces for communities to discuss women's political representation, gender equality, implementation of the VAPP Act, and gender and social inclusion. The engagements reached audiences across 17 states and were also livestreamed through radio stations' social media platforms.
Strengthened Media-Organisation Commitment to Gender Programming
All 12 broadcast organisations represented by fellows provided at least 30 minutes of airtime for fellowship programmes, demonstrating institutional support for integrating gender perspectives into broadcast programming.
Strengthened the Gender Data Ecosystem for Civic Actors
Gender data was curated across multiple development areas, with plans to develop a public database that journalists and other civic actors could use for advocacy and gender mainstreaming.
Project moments
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Let's build the next
project together
We're always looking to collaborate with governments, donors, civil society organisations, researchers, and innovators to create evidence-driven solutions for public good.
