Journalism is an exciting profession which keeps you at the forefront of events in the society. As a watchdog, people rely on you to inform and enlighten them on developments in their immediate and larger environment. However, this profession is seen as a man’s job across the world. This is because whereas journalism and mass communication training schools are dominated by women, only very few of them end up practicing journalism. Some female graduates of these training schools might want to attempt practicing journalism but could get discouraged by the unpalatable experiences women journalists get in the field. Some get into journalism and get out as fast as they could especially when they look at the future and see how ‘bleak’ it looks for women in the profession.
The situation is the same in Nigeria but the reasons for this might differ slightly among countries probably due to socio-cultural and other environmental factors. Here’s a list of top 10 reasons why women do not practice journalism in Nigeria.

1. Culture: This is one of the major reasons why women are discouraged from practicing journalism not just in Nigeria but most African countries. This could come in different ways. In any typical African setting a woman is expected to be some form of house keeper, staying with the kids and taking care of domestic affairs. If you have to work then you must find a way to combine your house-keeping duties and that job. Journalism is a job that could keep you at work for lengthy hours. In fact, long hours of work is a feature associated with journalism practice. You’re either following up a source or staying late in the office to file a story. African c ulture also frowns at the level of boldness journalism bestows on the practitioners. You are emboldened to speak to sources no matter how highly placed, pursue a story no matter where it leads you and take up daring challenges in the line of duty. Some men in specific cultures might see such a lady as a wild woman who would disrespect her husband. This strange factors discourage women from practicing journalism in Nigeria.

2. Macho Newsroom Culture: This refers to male domination of the journalism profession which also reflects on daily newsroom activities. Macho newsroom culture talks about an atmosphere of work which makes you feel this job is mainly for men. You see it in the concepts used to even refer to practitioners (Gentlemen of the press), assignment of beats to cover, dominance of managerial position in the media by men, among others. The woman is somehow made to feel or think this is not a place for her to build a career. This is a general factor affecting female journalists across the world.

Polly Curtis, editor-in-chief, HuffPost, one of the leading online news websites in the United States of America, once said in an interview, “I have experienced extremely male-dominated cultures in journalism that I found very difficult at times. I also had long stretches of my career when it just wasn’t an issue. At its worst I’ve seen how off-putting that macho culture can be for younger women coming into newsrooms.”

She further observed that this situation was changing but not fast enough. According to her, “You can look across news organisations and see close to gender parity in terms of numbers but who is getting the front page bylines? Who is making the calls on what the most important news stories of the day are? Who is doing the hiring? Having gender parity at all levels of seniority is important.”

Curtis also notes: “Part of the problem is the loss of women from the most senior positions once they have kids so that leadership teams and news editors are disproportionately male. Anything that helps women continue to progress after they have children will help ensure newsrooms reflect the world they are reporting on.”

It is clear that macho news room culture is a discouraging factor for women enrollment in journalism practice.

3. Marriage: This is a factor related to both culture and macho newsroom culture but it requires emphasis as a separate point. Because of the tasking nature of journalism profession, marriage tends to discourage some Nigerian women from becoming journalists. Some ladies especially in Nigeria feel that taking care of the family, running around the house looking after kids, giving attention to your husband, could prevent a woman from becoming journalists. In fact, some ladies in Nigeria have had to leave the journalism profession immediately they got married. Some other men might not want their wives to be going after male sources in search of stories or staying late at work to file stories. In some conservative African societies, female journalists are seen as wayward, so to get married some ladies decide not to become journalists. This might look extreme but it happens. In fact, one of the stereotypes about female journalists in Nigeria is that they do not marry early. This scares a few ladies away from the job.

4. Nature of Work: Journalism is tasking, tedious, and daring. Those who practice it efficiently and seriously will tell you it is not an easy job but that you’ll definitely enjoy it. Work schedule could discourage women from practicing journalism. You could be instructed to follow up a news source, probably male news sorce that you might have to wait for in his hotel to grant you interview. This is no big deal in the western world but in some societies in Africa, Nigeria inclusive, work schedule could be a factor making it difficult for women to take up journalism as a profession. You can also be sent to investigate an incident which so many might feel is not a safe task for a woman to embark on. The nature of work tends to feed the macho newsroom culture because women are majorly assigned beats such as fashion and entertainment while crime and political beats that require extra-mile investigations are assigned to men. This is not the case in every news organization as there are countries where the bravest investigative reporters are women.

5. Religion: Some women keep away from journalism due to religious doctrines. The first thing that comes to mind is the Moslem religion which might limit the flexibility required of women as journalists. But Christianity could also be a factor here for some women. For instance, some Churches might be stedfast on dressing especially not allowing women to wear trousers, and a female journalist might need to be on trousers for some kinds of investigation. This might be a factor too. Someone who attends a church that has a conservative dress code might stay away from journalism. Also, some ladies feel that work schedule of journalists does not give a good moral image for a Christian woman.
See more:

http://massmediang.com/10-reasons-why-nigerian-women-do-not-practice-journalism/

I want a female in the business to verify these ‘facts’.
All the means of information I consume are dominated by females.
There is something about a female being a non threatening presence that people pay her more attention over a male.
A male comes across as more authoritative, yes but corporations balance a scale of authoritative vs inviting, hence a preference for females.
If one switches to a news channel there is an 80% the person reporting is a female.

How about all the women on NTA? Women only hate journalism because their male counterparts think they can sleep with them as they please.

Do they have time? Can they cope?

I remember one time I was on a flight from Abuja to Lagos where I heard two journalists discussing (old guys tho. like the Dele momodu set). I didn't envy their lifestyle atal.

All the politics that goes with journalism, how they share news, the risks, no time for family and kids, etc. It wasn't appealing to the ears atal.

I have a classified video of how APC rigged northern elections in Katsina, Kano, etc.

Please how do I upload them here

This is heartbreaking!

OMG!!! Northerners didn't vote for Buhari oh, oh my

Buhari did not win oh, Atiku won this election, please how can I upload the videos

I am crying for Nigeria's future, jeez!!!

Welldone OP. However, this article might look too chauvinist.

In the real sense of it, women also make fine journalists and there are many of them out there, with/without all the factors you have munched above.

In an open world of gender equality, I think most media houses are getting open, receptive and mild with a work culture which gives same credence to both genders the same way and as such creates value and makes women even more aware.

I'm a media person myself and passionate about journalism. Channels TV and a host of others is a total speak-back against all the limitations you've listed in your article above; they have amazing female journalists. Going to the Print-media, check out Punch, Guardian etc. Then to radio, Smooth FM 98.1 in Lagos have amazing Female OAPs all of whom are as vast and active as the male 'other'

It's a dead profession in Nigeria. All they do is repost news from their colleagues. They react to news rather than dig up news or investigate a story and make it news worthy. They like brown envelopes after each interview. Dishonorable!

#Richdad

Women love money. No money in journalism

Richdad kill you there

Richdad50:
It's a dead profession in Nigeria. All they do is repost news from their colleagues. They react to news rather than dig up news or investigate a story and make it news worthy. They like brown envelopes after each interview. Dishonorable!

#Richdad

trash no pun intended

meobizy:
I want a female in the business to verify these ‘facts’.
All the means of information I consume are dominated by females.
There is something about a female being a non threatening presence that people pay her more attention over a male.
A male comes across as more authoritative, yes but corporations balance a scale of authoritative vs inviting, hence a preference for females.
If one switches to a news channel there is an 80% the person reporting is a female.

I do believe though stand to be corrected, there are more female newscasters on TV as they convey a softer presence.

Feminists food down land....

Wow

[left][/left] go

franchasng:
I have a classified video of how APC rigged northern elections in Katsina, Kano, etc.

Please how do I upload them here

This is heartbreaking!

OMG!!! Northerners didn't vote for Buhari oh, oh my

Buhari did not win oh, Atiku won this election, please how can I upload the videos

I am crying for Nigeria's future, jeez!!!

wow heartbreaking!!!

I also have a video of how pdp rigged massively in crossriver state.

The people there did not vote them.

How do i upload it?

very confidential video.

Just got it from a friend

You just scamed a friend. You will soon meet your waterloo.

Fri9881:
[left][/left] go

You just scamed a friend. You will soon meet your waterloo

jerrysurewin41:
see below

You just scamed a friend. You will soon meet your waterloo

See prove of our tonight games below

Your fact finding is correct.

franchasng:
I have a classified video of how APC rigged northern elections in Katsina, Kano, etc.

Please how do I upload them here

This is heartbreaking!

OMG!!! Northerners didn't vote for Buhari oh, oh my

Buhari did not win oh, Atiku won this election, please how can I upload the videos

I am crying for Nigeria's future, jeez!!!

Goan do that on channels TV and stop wailing here

rentAcock:
How about all the women on NTA? Women only hate journalism because their male counterparts think they can sleep with them as they please.

is someone sleeping with your girl?

omojesu202:


is someone sleeping with your girl?

I service women sexually unsatisfied women most of whom are married. Your girl might just be my customer.

meobizy:
I want a female in the business to verify these ‘facts’.
All the means of information I consume are dominated by females.
There is something about a female being a non threatening presence that people pay her more attention over a male.
A male comes across as more authoritative, yes but corporations balance a scale of authoritative vs inviting, hence a preference for females.
If one switches to a news channel there is an 80% the person reporting is a female.

I am a journalist and his thread isn't true. My newsroom is dominated with females actually.

makydebbie:
I am a journalist and his thread isn't true. My newsroom is dominated with females actually.

Are you not Ghanaian?
He wrote 'Nigerian women'.

What I've observed, there are equal men and women when it comes to radio and TV presentation. But more men when it comes to print and writing. Just look around you.

Maybe in another state but here in Lagos most OAP and TV news presenters are female. Maybe print media they may not be much.