A training course has been arranged in Tamale by the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA) for women who hope to hold elected office at the local or district assembly levels in the upcoming elections.
The goal of the workshop, which also included several journalists who cover women and gender problems, was to give the participants skills in gender-sensitive communication and reporting.
Ms. Shamima Muslim, a journalist, trainer, and advocate, led a workshop that gave the trainees—especially the female candidates—a chance to improve their campaign tactics for effectively interacting with the media.
The AWMA emphasized the necessity for female candidates to have a voice and be adequately represented in the media throughout election campaigns, acknowledging the significance of gender-sensitive reporting in influencing public opinion.
In addition to empowering women to clearly articulate their narratives and aspirations while traversing various media channels, Madam Muslim noted that the program aimed to close the gender gap in political reporting.
Experts and participants discussed a range of topics related to gender-sensitive communication and reporting. They talked about how the media shapes public opinion in politics, stressing the value of using inclusive language, avoiding stereotypes, and supporting gender parity in political reporting.
The ethical aspects of responsible journalism and the part journalists play in advancing inclusivity in the democratic sphere were also discussed in the sessions.
By sharing her experiences, Ms. Muslim gave insightful advice on how female candidates can overcome any obstacles they may encounter while running for office.
Ms. Muslim said, “The Alliance for Women in Media Africa aims to empower women to have their voices heard during election campaigns. Our goal is to create an inclusive media landscape that promotes balanced reporting and encourages more women to participate in political decision-making processes.”
The importance of the next district-level election was also emphasized by Ms. Muslim, who also shared her hope that the workshop’s knowledge will enable the female candidates to run successful campaigns and advance the general development of their respective districts.
The female candidates conveyed their appreciation for the chance to network with other candidates, journalists, and media professionals, as well as to learn from industry experts.
They stressed how important it is to report with consideration for gender in order to advance fair elections and foster an atmosphere that encourages women to participate in politics.
The training session hosted by the Alliance for Women in Media Africa was a major step in the direction of encouraging gender-sensitive reporting and fair political representation.
The initiative’s success shows how committed groups like AWMA are to dismantling gender stereotypes and enabling women to engage in politics. This will hopefully lead to greater representation and inclusion in district-level elections in 2023.
Source: Marzuuq Issah | Ghana360news.com
