SheSource.org
What are the odds that the commentator on TV is a woman?
Closing the Pundit Gender Gap
The Challenge: On the Sunday morning political talk shows, women represent only 14% of guest appearances. Ask journalists why they don’t quote and feature women experts more and they’ll tell you they don’t know any.
Our Approach: In 2005, Fenton, in partnership with the Women’s Funding Network and The White House Project, created SheSource.org to help close this gender gap. For the first time, there was an online resource and brain-trust of more than 300 women experts on everything from foreign policy to economics. To market the service among media professionals, Fenton sent out spokespeoples’ availability every week that were tuned to breaking news developments and trends.
Progress, Accelerated: Since its launch, SheSource.org has measurably changed the face of media coverage. Its experts are placed, on average, five to seven times per week in major media outlets including CNN, MSNBC, “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” PBS’ “To the Contrary,” NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX News, “Good Morning America,” AP, Reuters, The New York Times, Bloomberg Radio, and NPR. More than 200 journalists have signed up to receive its weekly news advisories.
