WAJA TRAINING ON REPORTING WOMEN ISSUES

By Mustapha Jallow On Monday, 22 September, 2014 a three-day training workshop for journalists on the theme “Women reporting on women” under the auspices of the West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA) commenced at the TANGO conference Hall in Fajara. The training, which brought together media practitioners that report on gender and related issues, is part of a series of similar trainings WAJA is conducting under the project “women reporting on women”. In his opening remarks, Mr Gibairu Janneh, Secretary General of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), said journalists reporting on gender are invited to participate in the training to share their experiences and perspectives about how it feels to be a man reporting on women. Mr Janneh said the first training was conducted in Bamako, Mali, and that one of the Gambian journalists attended. He noted that this particular training is the first of its kind held in the sub-region after the Bamako one. He added that the GPU is partnering with the Women Journalists Association to ensure the smooth running of the program. He said 90 percent of them are already reporting on women issues and issues affecting children. The GPU SG said the journalists must be well informed to clearly understand what women issues are and what issues are affecting women and girls. Mr Janneh said they have to clearly understand the subject matter and be more critical and know how to precisely engage the public so that they can collectively achieve the desired output. For her part, Mrs. Sarjo Camara-Singhateh, the workshop co-facilitator and a Foroyaa Newspaper reporter, said the three day training is a follow up to the one conducted in Bamako. The co-facilitator said this is a three year project which is aimed at building the capacity of journalists to report on gender sensitive issues in the media and is supported by the Union of Norwegian Journalists. “As women journalists, an important role is expected of us in our society. Women journalists have an equal constitutional right in the country, so we should not turn our backs to the noble profession we have already chosen as our career,” said Mrs. Camara-Singhateh.]]>