Ministry of Justice and Public Order

1

• Conference
• Mass Media in (Re) Distribution of Power
• Riga, Latvia 12th 14th January 2005

2

• PORTRAYAL OF FEMALE/MALE POLITICIANS IN MEDIA

3
Who are we?

• National Machinery for Womens Rights (NMWR)
• set up in 1998 by the Government under the
  M.J.P.Os umbrella
• promotes the integration of equality into all
  sectors of Government policies and programmes
• The NMWR
• as a channel of communication between
  governmental sector and the civil society (NGOs,
  Academic Institutions etc)
• promotes inter-ministerial collaboration on
  Gender equality aspects
• facilitates the integration of gender issues
  into government policies
• Works closely with the Planning Bureau in the
  preparations of the National Plan
• develops close links with all International and
  European Organizations working in this field.
• subsidize NGOs

4
The problem

• Do the Mass Media invite
• into panels the right person?

5
What really happens today?

• Channels usually invite
• Those politicians, who believe (the Media) will
  attract the audience
• Those who are not black listed by the owner of
  the channel or those who the owner favors

6
Furthermore.

• The Political Party usually decides who will
  represent the Party to the programme
• What they can say or how far they can go, is
  decided by the Party
• As a result
• Same people appearing every day on the TV
  repeating themselves
• No new ideas no new spirit no imagination
  no visions

7
Mass Media as 4th Estate

• Media as the 4th Estate
• Catalytic influence on the public and their
  perception of politics
• Women are not usually invited into programs
  during prime time viewing hours
• Womens image is associated with womens
  traditional roles

8
The politician

• The politician female/male in order to be
  invited to TV or Radio Programmes should
• Play with their rules
• Sell what they want to buy
• Say what they want to hear
• If not..they are out!!

9
ACTIONS

• Political Parties should trust women to
  represent them
• Sensidization and awareness of public opinion
  about woman-politician to change the popular
  conception of gender roles
• Choose the right person for the right discussion
• Change the stereotypes and prevailed political
  culture which are identified as key obstacles

10

• Conference
• Mass Media in (Re) Distribution of Power
• Riga, Latvia 12th 14th January 2005
• PORTRAYAL OF FEMALE/MALE POLITICIANS IN MEDIA