By Timwakat Goyang and Simon Jang
Women have been described as better managers of resources who owing to male dominance, unfavourable workplaces, gender stereotyping, family and cultural restrictions have been faced with challenges in the practice of journalism in Nigeria.
This was the position of speakers at a seminar organised by the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMCOMS), University of Jos, tagged “Women: Journalism and Nation-building”.
The event which held at the University Auditorium in the Faculty of Law, was aimed at preparing aspiring women journalists in the institution for the task ahead.
Declaring the seminar open, the Head of Department (HOD), Mass Communication, University of Jos, Dr. Sarah Lwahas described women as major stakeholders who have positively impacted on the media industry in Nigeria despite the numerous challenges they face.
Aligning with the HOD, a resource person who is the immediate past Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Plateau State Chapter, Mr. Katdaba Gobum listed a number of Nigerian women journalists who have left marks on the country’s media landscape.
He, however, pointed out that certain factors such as male chauvinism, continuously frustrate the penetration and progress of women in the profession adding, “most media houses do not assign women reporters to cover news on sports, politics or crime, rather, they are restricted to fashion, entertainment and lifestyle.”
He called for an improvement in the situation through the promotion of gender equality in the light of women’s proficiency and in the spirit of fairness.
Gobum challenged the students to aspire to be top-rate journalists by being undeterred, creative and be prepared to work hard.
Another speaker, a seasoned journalist, Kaneng Rwang Pam, advocated fair treatment of women in journalism describing them as “better managers of resources than men.”
Citing the report of a research conducted on a group of children which revealed that girls showed higher IQ and cognitive skills, she said “women are refered to as reflectors which is like a temperament, meaning they exhibit the ability to critically and holistically analyse situations to make informed decisions.”
Rwang Pam buttressed her position with a quote from the Editor of Catholic Weekly, Sri Lanka , Fr Shantha Sagara who said,”Women journalists are better at investigative reporting than men, but are not recognized.”
She challenged budding journalists especially the female students, to read deeply and have an insatiable thirst for learning. “To be a good writer; read, write, and read more.”
The former HOD Mass Communication, Dr Christy Best who was represented by a lecturer with the department, Mr. Francis Leman attributed the proliferation of quacks in the journalism profession to the wrong notion that it is unrewarding.
“Students who graduate with a first degree in Mass Communication, particularly the ladies, do not eventually work in media related firms or organizations. They prefer banks among others. It leads to the proliferation of quacks”, he said.
Dr Best charged the students to be focused, hardworking in their academics and ensure that they are studying Mass communication for the right reasons.
One of the department’s founding fathers, Prof. Augustine Enahoro called for more gender sensitivity in the Department with particular emphasy on the students’ association, which according to him is dominated by male officers.
He admonished the womenfolk not to see themselves as lesser beings, as he quoted William Golding: “I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men; they are far superior and always have been.”
Several other goodwill messages were delivered on the occasion followed by an interactive session.
