The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism(WSCIJ) Journalism & Society Conversations is created to bring stakeholders together to discuss the pressing issues of press freedom challenges, regulatory frameworks, and the pivotal role of investigative journalism in holding the government accountable and contributing to nation-building.
WSCIJ continues to offers a safe space for a healthy conversation between media professionals, civil society organisations (CSOs), government agencies and citizens to share their experiences and discuss possible ways for all stakeholders to coexist
The Tuesday October 15th, 2024 edition is unique as it was organized to be a follow-up to WSCIJ’s recent Report Women! Experts source guide website launch and Report Women! 10th Anniversary. Panellists discussed strategies for amplifying female voices in news and newsroom leadership. The conversation focused on the barriers women face in gaining equal representation in media content and decision-making roles and how to explore solutions for creating a more equitable environment.
Three panellists for this conversation were Yinka Olaito, the Executive Director of Africa Young Media Professionals, Funke Fayemi, a seasoned journalist and co-chair, Report Women and Sarah Ayeku of TVCNews who served as a good adds-on in place of Mrs Adeola Ekinne, NAWOJ Chairperson for Lagos State.
The event commenced with welcome thoughts from Motunrayo Alaka, the CEO/Executive Director of WSCIJ who shared on the progress of the centre in championing gender voices, mainstreaming which had now led to the launch of a website (resource guide) of women experts who can speak authoritatively on different issues.
Opening the stage, Yinka Olaito who reflected on the importance of incorporating gender studies and diversity training into the media curricula of mass communication students and young media professionals. He shared on strategies that had worked for his organization, which has a whole project “Women in journalism, new talent Discovery’ dedicated to preparing and equipping young women in journalism as well as those who are still in journalism schools.
He described this with ‘DEEMP’ an acronym that has helped his organization. Yinka Olaito says D means that organization and schools should create and deploy intentionally and strategically curriculum that meets the needs of the target audience- young women in media,
Also there is need to Engage, take a step beyond creating and deploying by engaging the target audience-young female with potentials. From here there is need to Educate. Through this, institutions, media organizations must equip, expose and share relevant opportunities generously with the selected group. He said “Africa foundation for Young Media Professionals does not leave their training attendees after the training but usually create a virtual group where continuous conversation continues with opportunity sharing”
Following on this is M-Measurement and evaluation. What you do not measure you cannot see progress in it is a mantra AFYMP lives by.
Finally, the last letter is P-Praise. Yinka Olaito said “if you care so much about who gets the praise, your ego will be deflated as many of the people you invest in may not look back to say thank you especially the Gen Z generation.
In his final thoughts, Yinka olaito maintained “Diversity in the media or newsrooms is vital to cross pollination of ideas which shapes the stories that define our lives”.
Funke Fayemi spoke glowingly about the report Women and challenge newsrooms to access the quality of expertise on the guide. She also challenged younger generations of women to understand “no one will come for them, they need to strive for the best and that opportunity comes to only those who are prepared”.
participants
Sarah Ayeku on the other hand shared her experience before and after her participation in the “Report Women fellowship”. She said “Prior to my participation in the report Women fellowship, I had decided to leave the media industry immediately as the challenges were becoming enormous, but a few weeks into the fellowship, my horizon was widened and I continue to stay on”.
For Sarah Ayeku, Report Women is a game changer and she praised the WSCIJ team for such a channel.
Participants, mostly women, left with a renewed energy to champion and mainstream issues relating to women in the society through active engagement with newsrooms.
