Women Radio to host maiden awards for gender-inclusive reporting July 8

The Women Radio Centre is set to host the maiden edition of the awards recognising media organisations and journalists for gender-inclusive reporting.

In a statement on Monday, Elizabeth Aboh,  communications officer for Women Raido, said the award will honour winners in five categories comprising television, radio, print, digital and journalist.

Aboh said the 104 entries which were received are being assessed by a panel of four independent judges.

“Women Radio 91.7 is set to host the maiden edition of “The ReportHer Awards” a gender-balanced award in recognition of media organisations and journalists who report women more and give prime time to women-related issues,” the statement reads.

“The awards which will select winners in five categories of television, radio, print, digital and a journalist, seek to recognise the representation of women, address the need for objective and gender-sensitive reporting and encourage gender-balanced reportage which is essential to nation building.

“An analysis of data on media reportage on women by the International Press Centre (IPC) at a dialogue organised by Women Radio in 2022 revealed that only a small percentage of print media increased their reportage on female candidates.”

Toun Sonaiya, chief executive officer (CEO) of Women Radio 91.7, described the media as a good platform to encourage gender-sensitive reporting, adding that females should be used as sources and analysts for balanced reportage.

“The media remains the most powerful tool in shaping public perception and only the media can make the public perceive women more by giving adequate media coverage, using more women as sources, analysts, and guests and giving them primetime as their male counterparts,” Sonaiya said.

“While we thank the media for the efforts made so far in reporting women, we should aim for a 50:50 balance reportage by deliberately making women an integral part of editorials and features.”

She added that the ReportHer awards will create the opportunity to publicly recognise media organisations that are deliberate and intentional in reporting women.

The award ceremony will hold on July 8 at Radisson Blu Lagos.