Christian Journalists demand more visibility for women

Christian Journalists demand more visibility for women

Dayo Emmanuel

Christian journalists under the aegis of Journalists For Christ (JFC) Nigeria, have made a demand on media managers in the country on providing adequate reportage of women and issues about them.

The media group, which recently published the report of its one-month-long media monitoring of six newspapers in Nigeria also held two media workshops for journalists in Lagos.

The publication, ‘Mainstreaming Gender Reporting on Affirmative Action of Women and Girls Right Issues,’ was published by JFC with support from the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).

As part of raising support for gender balance with the media, JFC has also commenced a media visit of the six media houses it had monitored to generate the report. The media organisations include; The Punch newspaper, The Guardian, The Vanguard, The Nation, Daily Trust, and The Sun newspaper.

Speaking at the visit to Daily Trust newspaper, Coordinator of the project, Gbenga Osinaaike, said, “The project is an eye opener to the assumption that women have not enjoyed enough representation in the media.”

Osinaike, a former Assistant Editor at The Punch newspaper and Publisher, Church Times Nigeria, however enjoined Daily Trust newspaper to continue to advance the course of women and girls with its brand.

Also on the team of JFC to Daily Trust was Assistant Director, News, at the Voice of Nigeria, Mrs. Ugonma Cokey, who enjoined media managers to always give more space to women issues.

“More spaces should be created and given to women issues. Women have achieved a lot in other areas apart from fashion and children desks in the newsroom and should be given opportunities according to their competence.”

“We are here at Daily Trust because it was one of the papers we monitored to generate the report. We are however advocating, if possible, we could have women desk because we hardly find men reporting women issues,” she said.

Responding, General Manager, Southern Operations, Daily Trust, Kamaldeen Ademola Oladosu, appreciated JFC and the noble efforts it had exhibited in bringing about the project.

“There are two things that are making me show interest in this project. Number one, we have a pull-out we publish every Sunday called Tambari, which is a woman oriented paper,” he said.

Oladosu continued that, “Our moral standard at Daily Trust is high. Tambarihas its own editor, a female, Amina Alhassan and we have fashion, health and other beats in the pull out, and there is always room for improvement.

He also revealed his organisation’s plan to celebrate women during the International Women’s Day coming up in March.

“As part of our support and recognition for women, we are preparing to celebrate them in March at the International Women’s Day in Abuja. It is going to be a big event. Wife of the President and some governors’ wives are attending the event holding at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja,” he revealed, stating further that, “Several topics are going to be discussed. The issues you have raised would be addressed as critical issues affecting women. Wife of the South African President Zuma is the Chairperson at the event.”

Oladosu added that, “We also publish an annual magazine called, ‘Women in Power’ magazine, this is a magazine that brings women issues to the fore.”

Talking about women that take to crime, he said, “We have to look at the aspect of women taking into crime. If we want the society to do well, we have to look into this aspect. We have ladies that are doing very well, women need to be challenged to be the best they can be.”

Expressing his concern for women getting involved in crime, Oladosu wants women in the country to condemn such acts in order to minimise the trend.

“The woman that killed her husband in Ibadan had attempted the murder once, until she eventually succeeded. If it was the other way round, some women would have carried placards. If we want a better society, such wicked acts must be addressed.” He said.

Others on the team of JFC at the media visit were the Project Consultant, ‘Sanmi Falobi, Admin Secretary, JFC, Dayo Emmanuel and Damilola Adeoye.