NTR: Diversity in the media
As long as only 23% of all the experts who are given a platform to speak in the media are women, and of all the people we see in the media only 9% are of colour, there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to the depiction of non-dominant groups in the media. Therefore, the Hub Gender & Diversity conducted a research project on the programming of the Dutch public broadcasting system NTR in relation to inclusion, diversity and representation, commissioned by NTR.
The researchers looked not only at numbers but more specifically at stereotyped portrayals, representations and stigmatizations of historically marginalized identities in the programming of the NTR. Media and their makers take on influential and exemplary roles in regard to representation and inclusion by choosing their subjects, anchors, guests, perspectives and lines of inquiry.
Media and their makers take on influential and exemplary roles in regard to representation and inclusion by choosing their subjects, anchors, guests, perspectives and lines of inquiry.
The researchers looked not only at numbers but more specifically at stereotyped portrayals, representations and stigmatizations of historically marginalized identities in the programming of the NTR. Media and their makers take on influential and exemplary roles in regard to representation and inclusion by choosing their subjects, anchors, guests, perspectives and lines of inquiry.
The effects of these choices (un)consciously shape public understanding of societal relations and of (in)equalities. The Dutch public broadcast cooperation, the NPO, has underlined this responsibility in their policy, by making one of their main objectives how the NPO should function as a broadcasting cooperation for all citizens of the Netherlands. With regard to this endeavor, the NTR contacted the hub.
The research results show how unconscious biases in different stages of the production process unwillingly risk leading to stereotyped portrayals and stigmatizations of marginalized identities. Focusing on several stages of the production processes of a selection of shows, the Hub provides the NTR with recommendations that will enrich and enhance the production processes of the shows in order to create a more inclusive programming.
“By not only paying attention to and deciding who is portrayed but also focusing on how this is done, media makers contribute significantly to the building of an inclusive society" explains Prof Rosemarie Buikema. "Therefore, it is important to for example let women speak not only in the context of the private sphere, but also in the public sphere as both professionals and experts. It’s crucial to not only depict women as victims or have them speak about their experiences of being a woman, but also as those who propose solutions to societal problem and have the capacity to act. Simultaneously it is important to introduce people of colour not only in the sphere of sports and games, but also as for example scientists and artists. In all cases, it is pivotal for the media maker to be aware of the narrative’s perspective. Who articulates the solution and who expresses the problem? Or, in the case of humour: what is determined as funny, and for who is this funny? Try for once to portray the doctor as a woman of colour and the patient as a blond blue eyed young man…”
Involved researchers
- Prof Rosemarie Buikema
- Drs. Diederick van den Ende
- Astrid Kerchman
- Fleur van der Laan
- Dr Domitilla Olivieri
- Kim Schuiten