Capacitation programme hosted for women in media

Who Really Is Monica Mutsvangwa? | News of the South — Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa

Audrey Galawu

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, Women in News Africa on Thursday launched its Zimbabwe Chapter at an event held at the Bronte Gardens Hotel in Harare which aims to foster the participation of women in media and skills building.

The programme ran under the theme, “Women in media, innovation and sustainability” and it addressed the safety and security and the psychological being of women in media.

Speaking at the conference, WIN Deputy Executive Director and Director for Africa, Jane Godia, explained the need for women in media to support each other.

“Out of 100 leading media organisations, only 10 percent are women and this has not improved more than 10 years later.

“Our vision as WIN is a media industry in which men and women are equal in the way they are portrayed in news content and as professionals and treatment in the newsroom within media organisations.

“We know that when media organisations are not stable, women are the first to fall off. Our mission is to see an increase in women’s leadership and voices in news and we do so by equipping women journalists and editors with strategies, skills and support networks and this alumni convening is one of those support networks that we are providing,” Godia said.

Minister of Information, Media, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, commended WAN-IFRA for helping women in media in digital training and skills building.

“This programme is essential for women because it brings women together and capacitate them with skills needed to navigate the industry.

She tapped into the issue of sexual harassment in newsrooms which she said needs to be nipped I the bud.

“The issue of gender disparity in media and sexual harassment is a matter that needs to be dealt with. It hinders women from exploring their passions, especially the young interns.

“I encourage all women to report cases of sexual harassment, no matter who it is, you have to report it. There is also need of a policy that deals with sexual harassment in media to deal with such perpetrators,” Mutsvangwa said.

WIN Alums Manager and Accelerator, Caroline-Phiri Lubwika, said this year’s WIN programme is focused on skills building and networking.

“One of the aims is to foster and enable country chapters to reconnect with all past leadership accelerated cohorts to forge a way forward in how to engage in order for them to enhance a long-life WIN experience.

“The objectives that they should engage and support the WIN alums community members in their professional development is also meant to build a professional skill set and strengthen support networks,” she said.

The WAN-IFRA programme has trained over 1 500 women and over 60 trained in Zimbabwe. The programme empowers women and organisations to work together in support of a healthier, lasting and inclusive news industry.