Journalists urged to ensure balanced reportage on gender issues

Journalists have been urged to ensure balanced representation of all genders in all aspects of reportage, both in audio-visual and multimedia presentation of their stories.Ms Melody Darkey, a Gender Specialist, who made the call, said gender was an important variable in planning, and it was imperative for media houses and journalists to understand gender issues properly to enable them to have better perspectives in their reportage.The misconceptions about gender needed to be broken and gender issues properly defined in media reportage.Ms Darkeh, who is also the Executive Director of Women in Law and Development, was speaking at a four-day training workshop for staff of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale.More than 40 journalists of the Agency from the middle and northern zones of the country are receiving training in climate change and sustainability, micro, small medium scale enterprises, health, and gender advocacy related issues to help boost their understanding and reportage on those issues.I t forms part of the Post Covid-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP), a government of Ghana initiative, which is being funded by the African Development Bank.The project is being implemented by the Social Investment Fund over a five-year period.The Institute of Digital Marketing and Communication iDMC, is facilitating the training progrmme for the GNA staff.Ms Darkey pointed out that, the target was for media persons to develop nuanced understanding of gender issues in the Ghanaian society, learn to identify and challenge gender stereotypes and biases in media reporting.She said it was important for the media to collaborate with gender advocacy groups and stakeholders to amplify voices and initiatives on gender equality.The media needs to acquire skills for interviewing individuals from diverse gender backgrounds with sensitivity and respect and produce impactful audio-visual content that raises awareness of gender issues and inspires action.Mr Charles Yao Mawusi, Com munications Consultant, of iDMC Ghana, taking participants through advocacy story writing, indicated that such write-ups, multimedia, or audio-visuals should meet the interest of the target audience.Source: Ghana News Agency