Bylines and barriers: How women with a minority identity navigate Flemish newsrooms

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Presentation

Navigating the landscape of journalism as a woman, particularly one with a minority identity, presents significant hurdles. Despite the growing body of international research examining gendered cultures within newsrooms and the obstacles they pose for woman journalists, possibly with a minority identity, notable gaps persist. Particularly, the field is characterized by a lack of systematic research that structurally examines the obstacles that persist for women (with a minority identity) in newsrooms across different career stages (e.g., pre-entry, active employment and post-career departure). Especially in Flanders, a region that continues to struggle with diversity in the newsroom, such research is considered valuable.

Therefore, this project, situated at the crossroads of journalism studies and feminist media studies, investigates the experiences of women journalists, including those with minority identities, as they navigate identity-related obstacles across various stages of their careers in Flemish journalism. Using an intersectional lens and longitudinal methodologies, such as ethnographic and diary research, this project aims to develop a conceptual model providing localized insights into gendered newsroom cultures in Flanders. The project timeline is from October 2025 until October 2028.