Alternet’s (formerly Mother Jones‘) Ann Friedman takes a strong position on magazines’ byline gender gap, going so far as to recommend quotas, which Alternet has employed in order to ensure that efforts to even the byline score are made. Quotas are often the subject of controversy, but when looking at the results published by WomenTK.com, and highlighted in Mother Jones last January, it’s impossible not to be struck by the gap and to reach out for any and all solutions. Here’s Friedman’s go at the ratios (male-to-female contributing writers/editors):
The American Prospect: 21:12
The Atlantic: 27:6
Harper’s: 30:2 (masthead not online)
In These Times: 6:6
Mother Jones: 10:5
The New Yorker: 44:18
The Nation: 26:4
The New Republic: 12:2
Salon: 14:7
Slate: 20:6
Washington Monthly: 30:5
Yup, Mother Jones is in there, and although we look better than most, there’s always room for improvement.
