While the journalism environment is becoming tougher for women every day, it will take only the toughest to float in the ocean. The demand of the profession will continue to task your brain and will power everyday but if you prepare and position yourself against the storm, there will be success at the end. No one can determine your limit, you have got to set your own boundaries and work in them if you mean to excel.
The above and many others are some of the positions of experts who facilitated in a two-day in person workshop that kick started the Africa Foundation for young media professionals’ ’Women in Journalism, new talent discovery fellowship for about 28 selected early career women in the broadcast and Journalism industry across Africa.
While welcoming participants to the hybrid session, Yinka Olaito, Executive Director, Africa Foundation for Young Media professionals (AFYMP) said “No matter what we say, the glass ceiling is still there even though it is being systematically receiving punches for it to be broken, there is need to consistently push so we can arrive at the goal post”.
“We must never forget where we are coming from so we must acknowledge the progress we have made in the media industry especially in Africa where top level media industry power is now occupied by women” Yinka Olaito concluded.
Bimbo Oloyede, the first session facilitator emphasized a need to have staying power if the young women want to move further and faster in the industry which bothers on ability to continue, to endure, to give commitment to self-improvement”. To Bimbo Oloyede, “Tese will require facing the realities of standards, diction, setting personal agenda and knowing the consequences of bad image and reputation as a lady” Bimbo asserts.
Olasumbo Modupe, who represented Abimbola Bello, Director Of Programme at Lagos State Television spoke on “Preparing to lead newsroom: idea, creativity Innovation and Team Management” said “No leadership position in the newsroom will be given to anybody based on sex if such individual does not have the capacity”.
“Leadership position is reserved for those who merit it. So if women must truly break the glass ceiling they must come prepared to have a seat on the table. Women must learn and increase their capacity in creativity, innovation, team building among many other industry demand” Olasumbo Modupe encouraged. More importantly, Olasumbo shared various professional tools women in Journalism must embrace.
Professor Suraj, a senior lecturer at University of Lagos who spoke on “Trends in cybercrime, cyberbullying and threat against women journalist” said “It is better to be aware and prepared of possibility of attacks, intimidations so women are not caught unaware”.
Kofo Bello-Osagie, another facilitator who spoke on “Trends in Media Laws” advised participants “To be aware of relevant media laws that guide the profession as ignorance of law is not an excuse. According to her “Laws are there to guide and prevent unethical behaviours in the industry. The major ones are laws of libel and defamation of character. Young women in Journalism must be aware as in most cases if they violate such laws, many employers do not offer helps”.
Stella Din-Jacob, Director of News, TVC Communications (TVC Television) who spoke on “Gender mainstreaming, why step up Conversation” said “It is time to encourage every woman to speak up. Too much silence is slowing down all the women’s affirmation charters that ought to have been fully implemented”.
Stella Din-Jacob
“”\More than ever before, Women in position should not remain silent on issues they have the capacity to speak up on. This is most especially related to women in power” Stella Din-Jacob added In her last remark, Stella Din-Jacob distinguished between feminism and equity. According to her, “A woman can be assertive without being arrogant or perceived to be negatively defiant”.
The last session was on wellness, a mental health issue facilitated by Dr Jegede. Segede said “Women must create work-life balance, be ready to ask for help when overwhelmed”.The event was attended in-person by 9 women from different media houses in Nigeria while another 10 attended virtual from across Africa
