MEDIA PRACTITIONERS REVIEW COMMITMENTS TO ADEQUATE REPORTAGE ON WOMEN

Lagos, 26 November 2022.

Media Executives and editors at a follow-up media dialogue have reiterated their commitments to give visibility to women in the political space to increase women’s interest and participation of Women in politics.

An analysis of data on media reportage on women by Lanre Arogundade of the International Press Center revealed that only a small percentage of print media increased their reportage on female candidates in October. In response to the data, the executives lamented the unavailability and unwillingness of female candidates for media engagements but agreed that the media needs to be more deliberate and intentional in reporting women more despite the challenges.

Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS commended Nigerian media for their active roles in reporting stories on women while citing areas of improvement. Eyong appealed to media executives to give proper and positive reportage on women’s political participation and the need to report women for a sustainable and peaceful Nigeria. Eyong said “as part of the efforts to support female candidates, a resource centre for women in politics was established weeks ago in Abuja and more are being set up across the country to help women with research materials to support their campaigns and build their capacity in readiness for 2023 elections and beyond”

Desmond Osemhenjie, UNwomen Programs Manager presented a list of 2023 female candidates showing how low the rate of women representation has fallen and urged the executives to make the list available to their reporters for more engagements and publications.

Toun Okewale Sonaiya CEO, Women Radio 91.7 urged media executives to give prominence to 2023 female candidates like their male counterparts using the list made available by UNWomen to bridge the gap on accessibility to female candidates. Okewale Sonaiya hopes if the media keeps reporting women positively, we can achieve a 50:50 approach where both male and female politicians are fairly reported and featured equally on TV, Radio, newspapers and online media.

The quarterly media dialogue is organised by UNWomen in collaboration with Women Radio 91.7 with support from the Canadian government

Esther Alaribe
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com