The “ProQuote” initiative: women journalists in Germany push to revolutionize newsroom leadership

ABSTRACT

Using standpoint epistemology and critical mass theories this study examines outcomes of the 2012 ProQuote [ProQuota] initiative in Germany demanding at least 30% women in leadership per newsroom. In-depth interviews with 53 journalists in 21 newsrooms show that ProQuote boosted women’s ascension into leadership by triggering and sustaining a debate about gender in newsroom leadership. This contributed to the normalization and legitimization of women in top positions, somewhat alleviating the stigma of tokenism. With critical mass in a given newsroom, women’s standpoints have entered the discourse on leadership. More representation of women of different backgrounds and overall diversity in leadership are still needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Journalism
• leadership
• gender
• women
• quota
• Germany
• Proquote
• equality
• affirmative action
• tokenism
• diversity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stine Eckert

Stine Eckert (Ph.D. University of Maryland) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Wayne State University. Her research focuses on the intersections of media, gender and minorities. E-mail: [email protected]

Karin Assmann

Karin Assmann (Ph.D. University of Maryland) is an Assistant Professor of Journalism in the University of Georgia’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is a former reporter and correspondent for the German news magazine Spiegel TV. Her research is in media management and newsroom practice. E-mail: [email protected]