The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on media stakeholders to take decisive steps to empower female journalists by ensuring they play more prominent roles in newsrooms, editorial leadership, and decision-making processes. The call was made in a statement issued on Friday by Ms. Ayomide Eweje, MRA’s Programme Officer, and made available to reporters in Taraba State.
Eweje highlighted the challenges female journalists face, including gender inequality, safety risks, and limited leadership opportunities. Despite these obstacles, she noted that female journalists have made significant contributions to Nigerian society by informing the public and holding those in power accountable.
She emphasized that women in the media play a key role in promoting diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive landscape. “However, increasing incidents of intimidation, harassment, and cyberbullying have underscored the need for stronger legal protections and institutional safeguards,” Eweje said.
To ensure the safety of female journalists, Eweje recommended multifaceted approaches to address both physical and digital threats. These include enforcing existing laws and adopting gender-sensitive policies to tackle violence against female journalists, providing cybersecurity training to help them counter online threats, and ending impunity by ensuring swift investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators.
She also stressed the need to increase female representation in media leadership positions. “We must challenge systemic biases that hinder the growth of female journalists and create environments where they can thrive without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence,” Eweje noted.
Eweje called on media organizations to adopt gender-inclusive policies, implement mechanisms for swift action when female journalists face threats, and ensure equal opportunities for women to lead and influence the profession.
DAILY MENTOR reports that the MRA’s recommendations come at a critical time when female journalists continue to face significant barriers in the media industry. The call for empowerment and protection aligns with global efforts to promote gender equality and create safer working environments for women in journalism.
By addressing these challenges, media stakeholders can foster a more inclusive and equitable industry, enabling female journalists to contribute fully to the profession and society at large. The MRA’s advocacy underscores the importance of collective action to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure a brighter future for women in media.