Vol. 54, No. 2 Spring 2026
Thumbnail summaries of this issue’s major articles:
‘Quiet, piggy’: Women Journalists Fight Misogyny
Gendered attacks on women journalists are nothing new. U.S. President Donald Trump has taken misogynistic vitriol to a new level during his second term, heckling women covering the White House with insults like “piggy”, “not smart enough,” and “a terrible person.” When these words come from the head of government, they can unleash a torrent of abuse – both online and in real life – against the targeted journalist. And although it has become a regular occurrence, normalizing this pernicious pattern of abuse cannot be allowed. A panel of journalists at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, in April examined the ways that political leaders wield misogyny globally to chill free speech and undermine press freedom, and what the journalism support community must do to fight back in support of their colleagues under fire.
“Melania” – Biopic, Fashion Guide, Propaganda, or All Three?
“Melania,” a film showcasing the activities of the current first lady of the United States during the runup to her husband’s second inauguration as president, debuted Jan. 30, 2026 for a limited run in movie theaters and has since migrated to Prime Video. According to Variety, older white women were the lion’s share of the opening weekend audience. “The audience was 72% female and 83% over the age of 45, a demographic rarity at a time when the box office is driven by younger men,” Variety reported. Nearly 75% of ticket buyers were white, according to data Variety attributed to PostTrak.
2025 Likely “Deadliest Year” for Media Workers; 2026 Not Expected to Be Better
Associated Press media reporter David Bauder has sifted through the data and reports gathered by organizations that advocated for journalists and declared, “By nearly any measure, 2025 has been a rough year for anyone concerned about freedom of the press. “It’s likely to be the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers,” he wrote in January. “The number of assaults on reporters in the U.S. nearly equals the last three years combined. The president of the United States berates many who ask him questions, calling one woman ‘piggy.’ And the ranks of those doing the job continue to thin. It’s hard to think of a darker time for journalists.” Furthermore, Bauder notes polling from the Pew Research Center that shows that trust in news organizations has declined over the last decade, and journalists are likely to elicit little sympathy when their work becomes harder.
Surprise! Sexism in Ads Worsened by AI
In today’s fast-changing digital world, the question “Is this real?” comes up often, especially as consumers interact with ads—many of which use humor or artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content. This study explores how disparagement in humor, particularly in the form of sexist advertising, affects consumer skepticism perceptions when the content is generated by AI compared to human sources. Using the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM) framework, Maria C. Voutsa, Dimitra Kerkidou and Leonidas Hatzithomas focused on Generation Z, known for their tech-savviness and awareness of social issues, to see how they react to AI- versus human-generated ads containing sexist humor. The results reveal that consumers’ skepticism increases when AI is disclosed in ads, leading to more negative attitudes toward the ad.
Conferences Keep Focus on Challenges for Women Journalists
International conferences continue to keep the spotlight on inequality of opportunity for women working in media and the increasing threats of harm to them in pursuit of their careers. On March 4, 2026 – International Women’s Day — the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) convened a conference in Brussels, where speakers called for stronger use of EU legal instruments to address the repression of female journalists, both online and offline. In addition to the well-known longstanding structural asymmetry in the hiring and advancement of women and compensating them, “Digital media present particularly severe challenges for women, including female journalists. Contrary to initial expectations that online platforms might level the playing field, the digital environment has instead become a significant source of inequality and gender‑based harassment,” said the conference summary.
Research in Depth: Advancing Gender Equality and Mitigating Gender Bias: AI and The Bechdel Test by Lisa French
Research in Depth: Cognitive Defenses Against Gendered Political Misinformation During the 2024 U.S. Election by Yajing Lu, Mariyam Manik, Yuner Zhu and Bu Zhong
Plus Book Reviews and News Briefs!