A recent analysis of how women are portrayed in East Timor's media shows that women's views and voices are seriously underrepresented. In addition, stories about women often focus only on traditional roles or entertainment or on women as victims of violence.

These are the findings of a two-week study of gender balance in East Timor's media by Internews' Media Monitoring Unit (MMU). MMU researchers studied stories printed in two newspapers and broadcast on two Dili-based radio stations. They presented their findings at a two-day workshop organized by the Prime Minister's Office for Promotion of Equality (OPE).

The OPE requested the analysis after the publication of a report by the International Rescue Committee on gender-based violence [see New Report Shines a Light on Gender-Based Violence and Local Justice] showed that nearly a quarter of East Timor's women experience some form of violence in their relationships with men.

MMU monitors Alberico Junio, Hopolito Da Costa Gama, and Francisco Da Silva presented their findings at a two-day OPE workshop that focused on gender balance. The media outlets that the MMU monitored also received the report.

During its monitoring, the MMU found that few stories broadcast on the radio or printed in Dili's two daily newspapers are by women, about women, offer women's viewpoints, or promote positive images of women. The MMU report recommends that all media outlets ensure more proportionate coverage of women and women's issues, including:

• searching for more stories about women, emphasizing their diverse roles in society, not just stereotypical roles
• interviewing more women and promoting a more positive image of women
• seeking the opinions of a wider range of women, including ordinary women and those in positions of authority.

USAID works in partnership with Internews to strengthen East Timor's democracy through a vigorous and independent media. It supports the MMU and other Internews activities aimed at improving the quality of information disseminated by East Timor's media.