Panel: Journalists must make an effort to include female sources in coverage

Before moderating the “Women as Sources, Women in Journalism” panel at the National Press Club Thursday evening, Bloomberg News White House correspondent Angela Greiling Keane made a point to include a female source in a story she filed.

If she hadn’t, “I couldn’t live with myself,” the former NPC President said with a laugh.

While making sure to feature a woman’s voice in an article is a simple act, it’s one that the panelists said traditional media often don’t consider.

Kate McCarthy, director of the Women's Media Center's SheSource, noted that even in stories about issues mostly affecting women — such as reproductive health and the Zika virus — quotes from men heavily outweigh those from women.

“When you look at these issues we’re not hearing the voices of everyone in the room,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy is working to boost women’s representation in media through SheSource, a directory of women experts available to speak about everything from politics to pop culture.

As the range of experts on SheSource demonstrates, women sources are out there and eager to be interviewed. But they often lack the platform to get their message out.

Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino and an Emmy-nominated contributor at MSNBC, has put herself in the public eye to speak for groups who tend to be discounted in media.

“Being in this space has expanded the need for more diverse voices,” she said.

One way she brings attention to those who are overlooked in media is through the "Our Voices: Celebrating Diversity in Media" reception. As part of the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, Voto Latino organizers and supporters have connected women and people of color with media bookers.

“We have to take care of each other,” she said.

It’s also up to members of the media to recognize opportunities to bring more women’s voices to the forefront, the panelists said.

Los Angeles Times White House correspondent Christi Parsons is acutely aware of her interactions with women sources and members of the media.

“I’m making an effort to widen the range of people with whom I speak,” said Parsons, who is also the immediate past president of the White House Correspondents Association. “It’s something all of us should be doing,” and not just women.

Parsons also seeks out women journalists who deserve recognition.

“I’m always looking for talented journalists who maybe aren’t going to promote themselves or climb on that hiring ladder,” she said.

The panelists talked about the ways in which women who would make excellent sources can overcome feelings of doubt and impostor syndrome. Some women who don’t believe they’re qualified to speak about a certain subject may just need the kind of training that an organization like the Women’s Media Center provides.

And if a woman source is still uncomfortable speaking, that doesn’t necessarily mean a man should get the sound bite. In that case, McCarthy said, “pass it on to another woman.”