The Gender Sensitive Media Guidelines provide a practical framework for journalists, editors, broadcasters, and media organisations to ensure fair, balanced, and inclusive coverage of elections in Nigeria. Developed to address the persistent underrepresentation and stereotyping of women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), youth, and other marginalised groups, the publication promotes ethical journalism that strengthens democratic participation.
The guidelines highlight the barriers to inclusive political participation, including gender stereotypes, unequal media visibility, violence, and discrimination. They recommend practical approaches for improving sourcing, language, story framing, and portrayals, while encouraging journalists to focus on issues, qualifications, and leadership rather than personal attributes. The publication also provides dedicated guidance on reporting on women, PWDs, and youth, promoting accessibility, diversity, and equal representation in election coverage.
In addition, the handbook explores the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect gender bias, improve data-driven reporting, and counter misinformation, while stressing the importance of human oversight, transparency, and ethical journalism. It also introduces monitoring and evaluation tools to help newsrooms assess and improve the gender sensitivity of their election coverage.
Produced with the support of the European Union under the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II) Programme, the guidelines serve as a valuable resource for media professionals committed to promoting inclusive, accurate, and responsible election reporting.
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