Overrepresented in society, underrepresented in the media: the illusion of gender equality in participant sourcing practices for socio-political discussions on Latvian public service media (2022–2025)

This study investigates gender representation in Latvian public service media (PSM)—Latvian Radio (LR) and Latvian Television (LTV)—discussion programs, examining whether these formats provide equal opportunities for women and men to participate in shaping public discourse and deliberative communication. The research is based on a quantitative content analysis of five discussion programs across LTV, LR1, LR4, and LTV7 from 2022 to 2025, covering 515 broadcasts and 1, 793 participants. The analysis focuses on participants' gender, professional status, topic relevance, and educational background. Findings reveal a persistent gender imbalance: men (68%) dominate high-level political and economic discussions, while women (32%) are more often invited as specialists in education, health, and social issues. Women rarely appear as decision-makers despite higher overall educational attainment. Russian-language programs demonstrate more inclusive sourcing practices. The results suggest that PSM sourcing routines reflect institutional traditions and structural inequalities, reinforcing gender hierarchies in public discourse rather than challenging them.