Panel: Advancing Research on Journalism and Gender in the Global South

Shivangi Asthana (on the left) and I presented our work related to the upcoming edited volume, "Journalism and Gender in the Global South: A Research Companion," with Routledge. Christy Mady also sent a prerecorded presentation. On the right is Carolina Matos, chair of the Gender and Communication Section, at IAMCR in Galway, Ireland. 

IAMCR Conference Presentation: Studying Journalism and Gender in the Global South

 

I look forward to presenting my current scholarly project, "Studying Journalism and Gender in the Global South," at the IAMCR conference in Galway, Ireland, on Thursday. This presentation is based on my work editing a collection on this topic for Routledge. 

Butler University Graduation

Graduation is always a wonderful time on campus. I had the honor of hooding our graduates in the Strategic Communication master's degree. Here I am hooding April Marvin. 

It was fun to share the stage with a journalism colleague, Indah Setiawati, and to celebrate with our student, Grace Nielsen. 

 

Book Review: Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

Journalism & Mass Communication Educator published a review of my book, Journalism and Gender: Global Perspectives, by Yelena Dzhanova, this week. A few excerpts: 

"Although Geertsema-Sligh wrote Journalism and Gender as a textbook for undergraduate

journalism students, she did not sacrifice breadth and synthesis. Scholarly
gaps on women as news makers and news objects in the Global South are filled with
analyses and data from institutional reports, which further Geertsema-Sligh’s argument
and paint a convincing picture of the absence of this crucial research. Considering
her intended audience, it is helpful that Geertsema-Sligh uses clear thematic organization
and memorable examples. This combination makes the book rich, yet still accessible
to students...

"Journalism and Gender makes a significant contribution to journalism

and mass communication scholarship by synthesizing a wide body of research

from a global perspective that moves beyond Western-centric frameworks. The book’s

strengths lie in its breadth, accessibility, and commitment to non-Western contexts.

For scholars, the book offers a comprehensive reference point for existing research;

for students and educators, it provides an accessible and well-organized teaching text;

and for practitioners, it highlights how gendered newsroom practices affect news

diversity. Notably, the book pushes the field toward greater inclusivity, de-Westernized

approaches, and applied feminist interventions that connect scholarship to practice

and pedagogy."

Welcoming Wagner College Students at Butler

A group of students from Wagner College on Staten Island visited Butler today to learn more about our master's degree in Sports Management. They were in town for the basketball Final Four event. 

Attending ASJMC conference in Chicago

I learned about threats to journalism and mass communication programs and education, leadership challenges and strategies, and ACEJMC accreditation at this week's Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC) conference in Chicago. These topics followed an amazing opening session with Al Tompkins, who shared insights into the impact of AI on journalism. Also a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues! 

With Jennifer Greer and Lee Farquhar

AEJMC Midwinter Conference Panel Presentation

 

I organized a panel, titled "Journalism and Gender in the Global South: Challenges to Women's Participation and Representation in the News Media," at the AEJMC's Midwinter Conference in Norman, Oklahoma, last week. Presenters included Rafaela Pereira (Brazil), Aanila Kishwar (Bangladesh), myself, and Abdul Wahab Siddiqi (Afghanistan). These presentations were based on book chapters for my forthcoming edited collection with Routledge. 

Time to Vote!

 

Platform for AEJMC Vice President Campaign

As part of my campaign for AEJMC vice president, I am sharing my platform below. My vision for AEJMC focuses on three interconnected priorities: strengthening global perspectives, facilitating diverse views, and fostering a sense of belonging. 

Elections will take place in March. Please consider voting for me if you support this platform. 

My Vision: A More Open and Welcoming AEJMC

AEJMC has been a constant companion in my academic journey for more than 25 years. It has shaped my scholarship, my teaching, and my professional identity, and it has provided an intellectual home and a community of colleagues whose work I deeply respect. I now look forward to giving back to this organization through leadership and service. My vision for AEJMC centers on journalism and media education, research, and professional responsibility within a more open and welcoming environment, while upholding the highest standards of academic rigor, ethical commitment, and professional excellence.

As media scholars, teachers, and practitioners, many of us were drawn to academia by curiosity and a desire to better understand the world and our role within it. As AEJMC vice president, I will encourage members to reconnect with that intellectual openness. AEJMC is, at its core, a community of learners, one that grows stronger as we remain curious, explore new ideas, and engage generously with difference.

An intellectually open AEJMC strengthens our mission as a scholarly community committed to rigorous inquiry, innovation, and public relevance. Intellectual openness invites diverse theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and ways of knowing, particularly those from underrepresented regions and lived experiences. By fostering spaces where ideas can be debated thoughtfully and respectfully, AEJMC enhances the quality and credibility of our research, prepares members to engage complex global and societal challenges, and cultivates a sense of belonging among those who may otherwise feel marginalized. In doing so, AEJMC positions itself not as a gatekeeper of static knowledge, but as a vibrant, forward-looking intellectual home.

To advance this vision, I will focus on three interconnected priorities: strengthening global perspectives, facilitating diverse views, and fostering a sense of belonging.

1. Strengthening Global Perspectives

AEJMC must deepen its global engagement. Our scholarship, teaching, and leadership should reflect the realities of an interconnected world in which journalism and media operate across borders, cultures, and political contexts. Global perspectives challenge U.S.-centric assumptions, expand whose knowledge counts, and strengthen the intellectual rigor and relevance of our field. They also prepare students to work in media environments shaped by migration, digital technologies, misinformation, and struggles for press freedom worldwide. For AEJMC, embracing global perspectives is not simply about inclusion. It is about relevance, ethical responsibility, and leadership in a global media landscape.

Key initiatives include:

• A Virtual Global Collaboration Network: AEJMC should strengthen relationships with international organizations, including the International Communication Association (ICA), the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), and the World Journalism Education Council (WJEC). These partnerships could support joint conferences, shared resources, mentoring, and global research networks, particularly benefiting early-career and international scholars. Strategically, collaboration with peer associations strengthens AEJMC’s global standing and positions us as a leader in shaping the future of journalism and media education worldwide.
•  Expanded Commitment to WJEC: I am especially interested in broadening AEJMC’s participation in the WJEC. Greater engagement would create opportunities for joint projects, leadership exchanges, and shared advocacy, amplifying AEJMC’s voice in global discussions on press freedom, media literacy, and journalism education standards.
• A Global Fellows Program: This program would support a small cohort of international members, especially from the Global South, for one to two years, providing membership, conference support, and mentorship. Emphasizing reciprocal exchange, fellows would contribute to teaching, research, and global dialogue while building long-term relationships that strengthen AEJMC’s global inclusivity.
• Support for Global Scholarship: I will continue to support initiatives such as translating research abstracts in AEJMC publications to increase accessibility for non-English-speaking scholars, students, and practitioners. Conversely, we should also encourage engagement with scholarship produced in languages other than English to broaden our global vision. Our journals could include a section titled Global Views that contains translated abstracts from non-English-language scholarship.

2. Facilitating Diverse Views

Strengthening global perspectives must go hand in hand with facilitating diverse viewpoints. Journalism and media thrive on multiple perspectives, experiences, and ways of knowing. Diverse voices challenge assumptions, enrich scholarship, and ensure that our research, teaching, and professional practices reflect the communities we serve.

Inclusion strengthens decision-making, stimulates innovation, and prepares students to work ethically and effectively in complex media environments. Embracing diverse voices is therefore essential to AEJMC’s relevance and leadership.

I will support this work by:

• Uplifting Commissions and Committees: I will highlight and support the work of AEJMC’s four commissions and the Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice (DEIAJ). I am committed to supporting the work of the newly established DEIAJ committee and ensuring its efforts are meaningfully integrated into AEJMC leadership.
• Continuing Support for the Institute for Diverse Leadership (IDL): As a beneficiary of the IDL, I understand its impact in preparing scholars for leadership roles and will continue to advocate for this essential leadership pipeline.

3. Fostering a Sense of Belonging

Intellectual openness flourishes when members feel connected, respected, and valued. My vision is for an AEJMC where members not only participate but truly feel they belong.

To encourage belonging, I propose:

• Monthly Virtual Fireside Chats:  A new series, “Fireside Chats: In Conversation with AEJMC Leadership,” would create regular opportunities for open dialogue, collective reflection, and mutual accountability in an informal, accessible setting.
• A More Engaging Community Portal: The AEJMC Community Portal is a step in the right direction. I will advocate for expanding its functionality to support sustained, year-round engagement, networking, mentoring, and collaboration beyond the annual conference.

I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve AEJMC in this leadership role. I bring a deep commitment to intellectual openness, inclusive leadership, and global engagement shaped by more than two decades of participation in this organization. I would be honored to earn your trust, your support, and your vote as we work together toward a more open, welcoming, and intellectually diverse AEJMC. Together, we can ensure AEJMC remains vibrant, engaged, and deeply supportive of all our members.

First review of "Journalism and Gender: Global Perspectives"

I saw the first review of my textbook, "Journalism and Gender: Global Perspectives," published in the well-regarded journal "Journalism," this morning. Dr. Mercy Ette wrote a thorough and supportive review. 

A few excerpts:

"Margaretha Geertsema-Sligh’s Journalism and Gender: Global Perspectives offers new insights from transnational and intersectional perspectives and prioritises discourses from the Global South."

"This timely and comprehensive textbook therefore explores the intersection of gender and journalism. It also presents a nuanced exploration of how gender undergirds both the production and representation of news, revealing the systemic ways journalism perpetuates gender inequalities across diverse socio-political, cultural, and professional contexts. Grounded on empirical data from 92 countries - 56 from ‘developing countries’ and 36 from ‘developed countries’ - the book challenges Western-dominated paradigms and underscores the need for a more inclusive and globally informed approach to journalism studies. It's ambitious geographical scope offers a rich comparative perspective, extending knowledge beyond the Anglo-American domain."

"By weaving together theoretical discussions, relevant empirical data, and case studies, Geertsema-Sligh broadens readers’ understanding of women’s participation and representation in journalism and news."