Rewarding gender-sensitive journalism

The Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) has for the first time organised media awards that seeks to promote gender-sensitive reporting. Margaret Sentamu- Masagazi, the Executive Director UMWA, gives some more insights about the awards.

Tell us about the Gender Media Awards
The Gender Media Award seeks to recognise efforts of media houses or journalists who would have demonstrated fairness, justice and a sense of equality between men and women; those who would have demonstrated gender awareness, sensitivity and inclusiveness in their reporting or productions.

The Awards will be annual and open to all practicing journalists working in Uganda. Selected media houses such as the Daily Monitor, Observer, New Vision, Red pepper and Bukedde newspapers have been selected for the newspaper category, NTV, NBS, WBS, UBC and Delta TV will represent the televisions and 15 radio stations will be monitored to pick the best.

What do you hope to achieve?
We hope to make gender sensitive reporting a standard journalistic practice in the country, to motivate aspiring and practicing journalists, and the media houses to advocate for, and embrace gender sensitivity in their career. It is expected that the Award will also contribute to increasing the spaces and voices of men and women, equally; and minimise the negative portrayal of any gender in Uganda’s media; shape opinion and promote social justice.

What is a Gender Sensitive Media Story or broadcast?
It is that story that treats men and women equally, sensitive to their situations, interrogates inequalities, injustices or stereotypes; and promotes positive progress. Male and female subjects must be treated equally with a balanced placement. Is the language used inclusive of both women and men? Are gender neutral terms used or it is assumed that masculine terms are inclusive of women too?

The story must provide in-depth and give equal opportunity for men and women on the same issue and not demotivate gender.

Why the Gender Media Award?
Women comprise 51 per cent of Uganda’s population but they only make 20 per cent of the media stories. World over, women are negatively portrayed and thought of as a weaker sex. This is shown in a way that they are not asked for a comment and when they are given chance, they are not asked on the same topic as the men.

The efforts to recognise excellence in journalism have been few, and devoid of a gender perspective and those who have demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity in their work have done it under difficult circumstances.

The fast and ever changing media landscape in Uganda continues to become uneven, misrepresentative and sometimes damaging to especially one gender. Such trends should be checked, and those found to have demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity should be recognised.

The award therefore seeks to reward such journalists that want the public to know that both men and women contribute equally to the development of the country and promote social justice.'

Who is to be recognised?
The first Gender Media Awards ceremony will be held next year, May 2017. The awards for a start will analyse stories written and published within a period of six months starting September 2016 to February 2017.
They will recognise an individual and media house that has reported with a gender-sensitive mind. Productions from selected media houses will be monitored to analyse their gender awareness, sensitivity and inclusiveness. Monitoring of media houses will focus on eleven categories: Best News Story, Best Feature Story, Best Specialised Report, Best Photograph, Best Cartoon, Best Documentary, Best Visual or Images.
Monitoring of media houses will fall under categories of the Best Television Talk show, Best News Bulletin, Best Radio Talk show, Best Gender-Sensitive Media House content on how they communicate gender.

About UMWA
UMWA is Uganda Media Women’s Association with a membership of 180 media women practitioners. The solidarity platform for women enhances the presence and representation of women in the media undertaking training for women and monitoring media houses on gender related issues.