Accommodate women in newsrooms, UN Women urges the...

Accommodate women in newsrooms, UN Women urges the media

Philemon Jambaya

recently in BINDURA

The media has been urged to accommodate women in newsrooms and also as their sources when covering news.

The UN Women’s department noted that the media industry has for been male-dominated, from the newsroom to the sources of news.

This was revealed at a media workshop hosted by UN Women in Bindura, which was attended by journalist from print, television, radio and online publications.

UN Women spokesperson, Innocent Katsande said that their organisation has noted that there are less voices of women in stories being covered by the media.

“Empowerment of women requires a holistic approach in terms of all stakeholders coming on board. There is a call for women spokespeople, rights organisations to continue stepping up and being bold on speaking on behalf of other women,

“Women tend to shy away from the media because of lack of trust between them and the media personnel. They do not know what will come after speaking and some lack training and the exposure to deal with the media.

“This meeting with journalists realised the need to train female spokespersons and there is a need for a trust pact between the media and the women,” Katsande said.

The meeting was also supported by Lower Guruve Development Association, who also shared the projects they were implementing in the Mashonaland Central district.