Surveys among journalists have showed still overweight of male employees (45% women in 2019, source NJ/Medietilsynet), and a lower percentage of women among editors (24% in 2019, source NR/Medietilsynet). As such, inequalities remain, particularly on leadership levels, and more so in newspapers than in broadcasting. This is also substantiated by other surveys done by the MBL (Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association), which conclude that women have a hard time reaching top positions in editorial work (MBL kjønnsbalanse) – but the inequalities do show tendencies to be smaller in most recent surveys. The association also runs a mentor program for women leaders.
The interviews show so far that every news media have a goal of promoting more female leaders and female journalists. Some of the leading news outlets have traditionally been quite male-dominated, but like the statistics from Medietilsynet shows us, this situation is turning around to a more equal balance.
The general regulations for maternity leave etc are strong in Norway, including rules to formally hinder discrimination against women due to birth and family commitments. Child care facilities are in general inexpensive and easily available in Norway. National provisions/legal framework regarding gender equality in the media work places are in place too.
Salary levels show better pay for men compared to women (Statistisk Sentralbyrå u.å. and Waatland, 2019) in 2018 as well as 2019.
