TechHer Train Journalists On Gender-balanced Reporting


Blessing Bature, Abuja


The TechHer Initiative has concluded a two-day intensive workshop on gender-balanced reporting for Nigerian journalists.

The project Lead, Gender Reporting For Media Professional TechHer, Kawthar Ahmed said the objective of the workshop was to create and mobilise demand for the fair and balanced portrayal of women in Media, train at least 60 media professionals in gender balanced communication across the country, transform social commentary around gender-based issues by simulating gender balanced news reports and to contribute to gender equality and women's empowerment in Nigeria.

Ahmed said the training, tagged Gender Reporting for Media Professionals (GRFP), had about 28 Nigerian journalists in attendance who were selected across the country. Several facilitators trained participants cutting across newsrooms on how to carry out gender-based and balanced reporting.

Journalists were trained on appropriate languages to be used when reporting gender-sensitive stories, good and bad representation of women in the media, as well as challenges journalists encounter during reporting gender-related stories.

She added that the method of delivery will primarily be learning through experiences, which is referred to as experiential learning, saying we are Keen to deviate from one sided teacher or student training format and instead allow the journalists to immerse themselves in reflective conversations with the facilitators, as is the practice where change in behavior is expected.

One of the facilitator, Head of operations and editorial manager for the digital division of The Guardian Newspaper, Lolade Nwanze urged media practitioners to be sensitive in their Reporting and stop putting blame on rape victims when filling news reports.

"It is the authority behind our stories that makes it different even though we need to censor ourselves, if we have to practice journalism we need to be ready for it because there is always heat in the kitchen." Nwanze submitted.

She stressed the need to involve women in management of newsrooms and decision making to address imbalances and pledged commitment towards improved and adequate reportage for the vulnerables in the society.

The facilitators include Lolade Nwanze, an editor for the digital division of The Guardian Newspaper; Dorothy Njemanze, an investigative journalist and gender activists; Ummi Bukar, a gender activist, Joshua Olufemi, founder of Dataphyte organisation and Kawther Ahmed, project lead for TechHer.

Speaking with Leadership, Joshua Olufemi said the zeal to tackle gender-related problems and proffer solutions inspired the workshop, adding that the workshop is aimed at helping journalists report gender-based stories without bias, marginalisation or even stigmatisation.