11 Jun 2026 Project changes lens of reporting on gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A WACC-supported project in Bosnia and Herzegovina has helped transform how media cover gender-based violence – and how the next generation of journalists is being taught.
Led by Association Novi Put, the initiative has strengthened gender-sensitive reporting practices, influenced journalism education, and increased public awareness of how media portray women and marginalized groups.
The project emerged in response to a context where deeply rooted gender stereotypes continue to shape public discourse.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a patriarchal country with dominant stereotypes about women, who are underrepresented in politics and government, according to Abida Pehlic, president of Novi Put, the 2025 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) coordinating organization for the country and for Central and Eastern Europe.
“Anti-gender movements have significantly undermined progress on women’s rights by promoting conservative agendas that oppose gender equality,” she says.
To address these challenges, Novi Put launched a comprehensive initiative combining media monitoring, public surveys, workshops, lectures, awareness campaigns, feature stories, and a national conference.
The goal, says Pehlic, was to improve media portrayals of women and marginalized groups, challenge stereotypes, and foster critical media literacy among audiences.
Evidence-based advocacy drives media change
At the heart of the project was a three-month media monitoring of five major digital outlets, using methodology adapted from the GMMP. This was complemented by an online survey that aimed to assess how the media report on violence against women and how this affects public perception.
The findings revealed a stark imbalance: women appeared in less than six percent of front-page stories, while men overwhelmingly dominated coverage linked to authority, expertise, and decision-making.
Representatives of media outlets, governmental authorities, politicians, social service institutes, secondary schools, and NGOs gathered to learn about the project research findings and explore actions for the future. Photo: Novi Put.
Novi Put used these findings to drive change. Advocacy materials developed through the project helped more than 20 media outlets adopt a gender lens in their reporting on gender-based violence, promoting more ethical, balanced, and rights-based coverage.
The results were measurable. By the end of the project, the number of articles and reports addressing gender-based violence through a human rights and gender lens had increased by 25 percent compared to the baseline, Pehlic reports. Media outlets also featured more women as central news subjects, while both mainstream and digital media increasingly acknowledged the importance of gender-sensitive reporting.
Journalism education with a gender lens
One of the project’s most significant achievements was its influence beyond the newsroom.
As a result of collaboration with Novi Put, the Faculty of Journalism at the University of Mostar established a Gender Equality course, helping embed gender-sensitive journalism into the education of future media professionals.
Project-generated data continues to be used in academic research, including a scientific paper, two final theses, and several seminar projects – evidence that the initiative’s impact is extending well beyond its original timeframe.
Professor Daniela Jurčić from the University of Mostar speaks with media during the project conference. Photo: Novi Put.
“Representatives of the Ministry of Education stated they hoped Novi Put would intensify activities on promotion of balanced media reporting and expand educational activities that motivate young people to choose useful media content,” says Pehlic.
A professor at the University of Mostar also commended Novi Put’s efforts to bring together academia, journalists, civil society organizations, and media audiences around the issue.
Amplifying the voice of those too often unheard
The project’s impact was also felt by the people whose experiences are often overlooked in media coverage.
“Marginalized and vulnerable groups highlighted in the stories expressed that the initiative was instrumental in giving them visibility and voice,” says Pehlic.
Young people were particularly engaged. Through workshops, discussions, and public events, participants strengthened their ability to recognize gender bias in media content and hold media organizations accountable for fair and inclusive reporting.
Building momentum for long-term change
Pehlic says that the project has strengthened collaboration among media organizations, civil society groups, universities, and public institutions – relationships that continue to support efforts toward more equitable media representation.
Editors showed genuine interest in integrating gender perspectives into their reporting and have continued to engage with Novi Put since the project’s conclusion, the GMMP coordinator reports. The initiative has also inspired more in-depth journalism that continues to inform and sensitise the broader public.
For Pehlic, the project’s success demonstrates the power of combining research, advocacy, education, and public engagement to advance gender equality in media.
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he organization plans to continue its media literacy and advocacy work, expand youth education programs, and deepen partnerships with journalism faculties. Encouragingly, gains in public awareness and critical media literacy – particularly among young people – have continued to grow even after the project ended.
Top image: Novi Put president Abida Pehlic (2nd from right) leads the conference on the “Exploring Gender Lens in Journalism on Gender-Based Violence” project. Photo: Novi Put.
WACC works in partnership with Association Novi Put and other communication rights and sustainable development organizations worldwide through its Communication for All Program (CAP), with support from Bread for the World-Germany.
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