Background to the Research

• In 1997, 26 out of 125 (21%) Westminster candidates were women, as were 19% of nearly 1000 council candidates.
• No women were elected as N Ireland MPs, and 85 out of 585 councillors were women (14.5%)
• While the under-representation of women as elected political players is not due to the media alone, it plays a major role in defining the political landscape, what is seen as a political issue and how a person is seen as a politician.
  

Research Approach

• The study compared newspaper coverage given to male and female candidates in the 1977 Westminster and local elections in Northern Ireland.
• 267 editions of 22 newspapers, including the 3 'daily' papers (Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and Newsletter) were examined from 1 April to 21 May 1997 (Election Day).
• There were different types of coverage:
  • Every story featuring one or more candidates to either election was noted. This excluded paid advertising and letters to the editor, as these did not involve an editorial decision.
  • The number of by-lined stories were noted, as this suggests that a candidate is politically newsworthy.
  • Photographs featuring candidates were counted.
  • Constituency profiles were examined.
• A questionnaire was sent to all female candidates covering their experiences and perceptions of election coverage. 37 candidates responded.

Main Findings

• 18% of stories and 17% of photographs in newspapers relating to election candidates featured women. The extent of coverage varied among newspapers.
• The higher the proportion of women elected was related to the amount of newspaper coverage.
• The three daily newspapers had lower coverage of female candidates compared to 'local' papers.
• Five out of six questionnaire respondents from Belfast constituencies were not satisfied with their coverage. This may be due to the fact that the three daily newspapers are the 'local' papers for Belfast.
• Where women accounted for over 20% of elected councillors, the majority of questionnaire respondents had been contacted by the media. Where a lower percentage of women were elected, most respondents had not been contacted by the media.
• Raising the issues of 'non coverage' by the media can help increase a candidates media profile.
• Women were under-represented in constituency profiles presented by newspapers (eg articles describing the campaigns), and are nearly always missing from leader comments and editorial cartoons.
• Candidates got more coverage if they stood in both Westminster and council elections.
• Coverage on the lack of women in political life correlated with there being a Women's Coalition candidate in the newspaper's hinterland.