The correct response is:
The broader implications of an idea would be discussed before the reader understands what the idea is.
If you were to reverse the order of paragraphs 3 and 4, the article would mention the global statistics about men holding management positions in media before providing the specific statistics about gender representation in U.S. newsrooms. This could confuse readers who may not yet fully grasp the context or the specific situation in U.S. journalism before considering its reflection in a global context.