The first Nigerian Women Radio, WFM91.7 is to host the maiden edition of “The ReportHer Awards” a gender balanced awards in recognition of media organisations and journalists who report women more and give prime time to women related issues.
Penpushing reports that the Chief Executive Officer of the station, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya in a statement explained that the award is being organized in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism with support from United Nations (UNWomen) and the Government of Canada.
The statement added that the awards which will select winners in 5 Categories of Television, Radio, Print, Digital and a Journalist, seeks to recognise the representation of women, address the need for an objective and gender sensitive reporting and encourage gender balanced reportage which is essential to nation building.
Penpushing further reports in the statement made available by the Communications Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Elizabeth Aboh disclosed that a total number of 104 entries were received and currently being assessed by a panel of 4 independent judges.
‘An analysis of data on media reportage on women by the International Press Centre (IPC) at a media dialogue organised by Women Radio in 2022 revealed that only a small percentage of print media increased their reportage on female candidates’, the statement reads.
Penpushing further reports that Okewale Sonaiya, noted that the media remains the most powerful tool in shaping public perception, stressing that only the media can make the public perceive women more by giving adequate media coverage, using more women as sources, analysts, guests and giving them primetime as their male counterparts.
The Chief Executive Officer of the radio station thanked the media for the proactive measures in reporting women, and making women an integral part of the editorials and features
‘While we thank the media for the efforts made so far in reporting women, we should aim for a 50:50 balance reportage by deliberately making women an integral part of editorials and features”, Okewale-Sonaiya emphasised
Penpushing also reports that the broadcast journalist added that, the ReportHer Awards will allow for the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the media that were deliberate and intentional in reporting Women.
‘The maiden edition of the ReportHer Awards is scheduled for 8 July 2023 at Radisson Blu Lagos Nigeria. The ReportHer awards is an initiative of Women Radio 91.7 in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism with support from UNWomen and the Government of Canada’, the statement said.
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