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Gender Data: Journalists in Focus

"Gender Data: Journalists in Focus” is part of the project Open Data for an Open Society, jointly implemented by UNDP and the Serbian Office for IT and eGovernment, with support from the Government of the United Kingdom.

The programme is aimed at women journalists who cover gender equality, as well as members of civil society organisations, supporting them in the development of data-informed media content.

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About the Programme

The “Gender Data: Journalists in Focus” programme is part of the Open Data for an Open Society project, implemented by UNDP and the Office for IT and eGovernment in Serbia, with support from the Government of the United Kingdom.

It is designed to support women journalists and members of civil society organisations who report on gender equality. The aim is to strengthen their capacity to create media content grounded in open data and evidence.

Through this programme, participants learn how to use public datasets and analytical tools to investigate and tell stories about gender-based inequalities. Whether reporting on violence against women or the representation of women in various professions, data helps identify trends, reveal gaps, and support the creation of fact-based reporting that contributes to social change.

The programme introduces participants to key statistical concepts (e.g. averages, medians, correlations) and explores sources of open data from government, NGOs, and international organisations. It also aims to map both available gender data and the gaps that remain, helping define priorities for future data collection.

Ultimately, the goal is to place gender data at the heart of journalism that informs public debate and promotes equality.

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Why Gender Data Matters

Gender data helps us make visible the inequalities that often remain hidden in traditional narratives. When used in journalism, these data sets offer insight into how gender influences access to education, healthcare, employment, safety, and representation in political or public life.

Reliable data allows journalists to shift from anecdotal reporting to evidence-based stories. It helps build narratives that are more inclusive and impactful, especially in underreported areas such as gender-based violence, unpaid labour, or discriminatory hiring practices.

Still, data is not neutral. It's essential to understand how data is collected, whose experiences are captured, and who is left out. This awareness is crucial when interpreting and communicating findings.

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Gender in the Media: What Do We Report – and How?

The media plays a critical role in shaping how gender issues are understood. Stories about women and gender minorities often reinforce stereotypes or focus on individuals, while structural inequalities remain underexplored.

When it comes to using data, there’s also a risk of replicating these same gaps unless journalists critically engage with what the data shows and what is missing.

Some underreported themes include:

  • Gender-based violence (GBV) and systemic failures in prevention and response

  • Care work and unpaid labour

  • Access to political power and decision-making roles

  • Digital inequality and gendered online violence

Good data journalism on gender not only presents figures, but also highlights their context, connecting numbers with lived experience.

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Gender Data: Journalists in Focus

This GitBook is a working guide designed to support journalists and others interested in gender-sensitive data, open research, and reproducible reporting practices. It builds on the UNDP-supported publication Čitanje između redova: Rodni podaci u fokusu novinarki and is developed as part of a collaborative learning initiative.

The material brings together practical resources, curated data sources, and case-based examples that illustrate how gender and other social inequalities can be explored through data analysis and transparent methods.

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Who is this for?

This resource is intended for:

  • Journalists working on stories related to gender, education, labour, or social inequalities

  • Students and researchers interested in using open data in the social sciences

  • Trainers and facilitators developing workshops on data literacy or media ethics

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What does it contain?

The GitBook includes:

  • Thematic orientation on gender and media

  • Guidance on finding and using open data

  • Examples of transparent and reproducible workflows using R and GitHub

  • Case studies based on real-world datasets

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Structure of the material

The content is organised into the following sections:

  • Introduction: Why Gender Data?

  • Media & Gender: Key Issues

  • Where to Find Data & Tools

  • Using Data Transparently in Journalism

  • Case Study 1: Women in STEM in the Western Balkans

  • Case Study 2: Participation, Violence, and Public Policy

  • Final Reflections and Next Steps

This content will continue to develop over time. Contributions and feedback are welcome.

NextWhere to Find Gender Data

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