Gender and Technology in Journalism

Digitalization has significantly impacted the media industry, altering media structures, working conditions, and news processes.
It introduced digital tools and platforms (social media, blogs, live streaming) and new forms of journalism (data, immersive, online).
Key question: Do these digital spaces replicate patriarchal structures or offer gender-neutral environments?
Digitalization is often studied without considering gender, which is problematic.

Feminist media studies highlight obstacles for women in journalism.
Journalism studies focus on technological innovation but often ignore gender issues.
Feminist technology studies provide insights into the relationship between gender and technology.

Macro Level: Internet and ICT introduction in the 1990s led to media conversions.
Routines & Working Conditions: Changes in workflow and required competencies.
Journalists need digital skills, requiring time investment and training, with gendered consequences.

Amy Webb predicts the disappearance of some journalism jobs and the emergence of new ones focused on code, data, algorithms, and bots.
High demand for advanced technical skills (computing, graphic design, programming, data visualization) combined with traditional journalistic skills.
These individuals are often labeled as "unicorns" due to the rarity of this skill combination.

Media companies often hire from the ICT industry for technical positions, which has a significant gender imbalance.
Only 17% of tech workers in Europe are women.
ICT education is still underrepresented by women, unlike journalism.
Feminist media scholars move beyond binary gender thinking to understand gender interactions with technology.

Gender stereotypes limit opportunities for women in tech.
Association with hacker culture and geek stereotypes affects women's identification with computer science.
Stereotypes are reproduced through societal influences (parents, education, media).
Digital skills are often evaluated along gender binaries, favoring men.

Stereotypes result in biases against female journalists' digital expertise.
Coding and development are constructed as male areas.
Female journalists' digital skills are often questioned or underestimated.
A "coding ceiling" emerges, paralleling traditional gender-related obstacles like the glass ceiling.

Digital expertise is often gained through self-study, requiring time investment.
Work-family conflict disproportionately affects female journalists' access to educational opportunities.

Data journalism mixes journalistic practices with data analysis, programming, and visualization.
It's considered open for everyone, less guarded by old boys' networks.
Professional networks are created through online communication.
Data journalism culture is based on cooperation, teamwork, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Data journalism provides autonomy in topic selection and access to hard news beats.
It functions as a tool to address women's rights and sexism.

Initiatives focus on closing gender gaps in technology and journalism.
Networks and mentoring groups: Chikas Poderosas, NACHA Data Ladies.
Female-friendly hackathons: Cracking the Coding Ceiling, Women's Mechaton.
In-house training in media companies reduces gender bias in access to digital skills.

Female students are the majority in journalism education.
Embracing multimedia production and digital storytelling techniques provides necessary tools.

No simple digital divide in journalism.
Digital skills are stereotypically associated with masculinity but also empower women.
Women can enhance opportunities by gaining digital skills.
Initiatives aim at women building and sharing digital knowledge.
Potential to hack the gender gap and crack the coding ceiling in journalism.