WAN-IFRA

World Association of News Publishers

WAN-IFRA Search

A spotlight on 'Women In News'

Article ID:

17731

With 80% of participants having been promoted or making a career move since its launch in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, the highly successful Women in News (WIN) programme is now expanding to two additionalcountries, Zimbabwe and Malawi. More than 20 news media companies and 50 high potential women thus far have benefited directly from the skills development, coaching, peer mentoring and networking opportunities provided through WIN. The first series of Women in News 2014 events took place from 10-14 March.

Programme Highlights:

Local Ownership: Norah Spie, a veteran Zimbabwean journalist, media trainer and communications consultant, has been recruited to the local manager of Women in News, bringing the programme closer to the audience it aims to support. Brenda Zulu, a graduate of the WIN programme, will take over management of www.womeninnews.org

WAN-IFRA Member Engagement: Print and Digital Media South Africa, WAN-IFRA’s member association in the country, has agreed to partner in WIN South Africa this year through a joint funding and operating arrangement that allows for an expansion of the programme. WIN South Africa will also offer certification through collaboration with Wits University Department of Journalism, a first for WAN-IFRA’s media development programmes.

Individual Milestone: WIN graduate Emelda Libanga was recently promoted Editor of the Sunday Mail, Zambia. Notes Libanga on the impact of WIN:

“From the time I Joined the programme in 2010 to date, my career has experienced tremendous progress – from that of sub-editor which is senior reporter level in our organisation to now heading my own Section, the Sunday Mail. I also managed to upgrade myself academically to a postgraduate level. I can assuredly trace my career progress to the coaching, training and networking WIN exposed me to during the three years I was a participant. I’m grateful to WIN for equipping me with necessary tools to succeed in my career.”

Promoting Industry Action: In 2014, WIN will launch the Alliance for Women in News, a working committee that partners with news media companies to collectively identify and implement concrete solutions to help widen the pipeline to management and executive roles for their women employees through education, training, advocacy and awareness raising.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and WAN-IFRA conduct an ambitious strategic partnership to advance media development and press freedom worldwide. The partnership allows WAN-IFRA to broaden and develop its press freedom and media development activities to support free and financially sustainable media worldwide. More on WAN-IFRA media development projects can be found http://www.wan-ifra.org/microsites/media-development