By Awa DK. Conteh and Aji Fatou Jammeh
The Women Journalists Association of The Gambia WoJAG, has successfully re-launched the association and adopted a new constitution, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.
The event brought together members of the Women Journalists Association and partners who contributed to the success of the event.
The association was relaunched by Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie, on the theme ‘Shattering the Glass Ceiling in the Media’.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Minister Bakary Badjie said that his ministry is committed to working with the association into the future.
He said that women in journalism should take centre stage in media work and change the dynamic of men domination in the newsrooms.
In an interview with this medium, Annette Camara, President of WoJAG, drew attention to the recently held Gambia Press Union (GPU) annual media awards, in which out of the 49 shortlisted candidates for all categories, only 16 were women, which equates to just about 33%.
“We need some serious work on getting the gender balance right, at the very least, to 50% of all applicants,’’ she suggested.
Ms. Camara however indicated that the ushering in of a democratic government has widen the space for media freedom in the country as more media houses have now entered the public sphere and more people have access to voice their opinions. However, she lamented that the expansion of the media space has done little to change the status of women journalists or media workers.
“Just about 7% of the media houses are owned or managed by women. The number of female editors or newsroom heads is almost at the same percentage level,’’ she posited.
Ms. Camara assured that WoJAG will continue to work closely with GPU in advocating for the promotion of the rights and welfare of women.
Mr. Demba Kandeh, Media Specialist at Freedom House slated that since January 2017, the number of media houses has increased exponentially in The Gambia providing a new outlook to what was once “a barely functional’’ industry in the country.
Mr. Kandeh indicated that the GPU research on working conditions of journalists shows that more than 51 percent of journalists and media workers are women. He said it is significant and actual break from the history when “we had not just fewer journalists, but even fewer women journalists’’.
He therefore called for appropriate representation for all, especially traditionally marginalised groups.
