By Patience Ampaire
Female Journalists in Greater Masaka districts have been tipped on how to deal with matters of violence and harassment while in their field of work. This was during a training in Masaka City at Mariaflo Hotel conducted by the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA).
Ms Nankya Joanitah Sanyu the UMWA program’s officer noted that there is a need to empower and prepare female journalists to confront the perpetrators.
Nankya said that UMWA is closely looking at violence reports from both female and male journalists but according to available reports so far, females are still few in the journalism field compared to their male counterparts because of a couple of challenges they face while doing their work.
Research that was carried out by UMWA two years ago, revealed that the number of journalists in the field, 25 percent were women and 77 percent were men.
“UMWA is working hard to reduce the number of females who quit journalism because of those challenges through sensitization and empowerment,” she said.
She noted that so far sexual harassment tops the list of the challenges, advising female journalists to use the online platform UMWA established to report such cases and other related challenges they face in their media houses.
Journalists who attended the training applauded UMWA for the deliberate interventions, calling for more trainings to enhance their capacity and empowerment in fighting all injustices against female journalists.
Getrude Mutyaba one of the female journalists who attended the training noted that journalists are facing sexual harassment in the field and at work, but they fear reporting especially high profile individuals.
“This training has not only built our capacity but also availed confidence in reporting such crimes and standing on truth even on high profile people,” she said.
Magret Kayondo another reporter argued that female journalists should use the gained knowledge to spread it further to other journalists in the field in a bid to build capacity in fighting violence.
“If it means fighting for the rights of female journalists then do it, do not leave it in workshops and trainings because nobody will fight for us,” Kayondo said.
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