Women Radio 91.7 says it has received 104 entries for its maiden ‘ReportHer Awards’ designed to recognise media organisations and journalists who give priority to reporting women-related issues.
Four independent judges would select winners in five categories of the awards, according to a press statement signed by Elizabeth Aboh, Communications Officer for Women Radio.
“The awards which will select winners in 5 Categories of Television, Radio, Print, Digital and 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 the nation building,” she stated. “A total number of 104 entries were received and are currently being assessed by a panel of 4 independent judges.”
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According to gender-based radio, there are limited reports on women, especially those vying for political offices.
“An analysis of data on media reportage on women by the International Press Centre (IPC) at a media dialogue organised by Women Radio in 2022 revealed that only a small percentage of print media increased their reportage on female candidates,” Aboh stated.
The ‘ReportHer Awards’, Aboh explained is an initiative in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) with support from UNWomen and the Government of Canada.
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The Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, said “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.”
“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,” Sonaiya added, explaining that ‘ReportHer Awards’ will allow for the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the media that were deliberate and intentional in reporting Women.
The maiden award which is “strictly by invitation” is scheduled for July 8 at Radisson Blu, Lagos State, Nigeria.
