Makerere University SWGS Participates in the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) Round Table Engagement on Mainstreaming Gender in the Media

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Submitted by enamitala on 8 March 2019 - 3:54pm
A cross section of the participants that attended the UMWA media round table discussion.

On Wednesday 6th March 2019, Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies (SWGS) participated in the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) round table engagement on mainstreaming gender in the media. The School was represented by Dr. Florence Ebila, Lecturer SWGS under the theme: To be curvy or not to be.....did the media get it right? Key lessons on mainstreaming gender in the media.

The discussion was organized under the UMWA project titled Media for Gender Equality and Social Justice: Leaving No One Behind with support from Democratic Governance Facility - DGF. One of the activities aimed at mainstreaming gender in the media are the round table engagements with media managers, editors and owners.

L-R Ms. Anne Mungoma the miss curvy organizer speaking during the media round table discussion. On the right is Dr. Florence Ebila, Lecturer SWGS sharing her views during the discussion.

Some of the highlights from the dialogue include:

  • Has the gate keeping role of the editors gone to dust? The editor is the manager of the news. Editors should play their part as gatekeepers of information.
  • Are we as media houses after money only and have ignored professionalism? Why do we only ask is this story going to sell?
  • What angles are we taking when writing a story? Pictures shouldn't bring shame to women. Let us go over patriarchal angles to stories.
  • We need to use reliable, intelligent and credible sources when reporting.
  • Don't sensationalize women issues.
  • Let us bring gender sensitive men on board as well.
  • Ask yourself, what message are you sending to the young men and women?
  • The media is not promoting gender equality rather they are more interested in profiteering
  • Women are first class citizens and not second class as media portrays
  • It is the duty of media to transform society
  • As media we there is need to promote gender sensitive reporting but again the information being sent out is going to a gender insensitive society. As media there is need to ask what the impact of the stories on young men and women is. As a Journalist you are more of an activist, avoid stereotypes, present the story as it is and analyze the deeper issues in it.

Sourced from the Uganda Media Women’s Association page: https://www.facebook.com/ugumwa/