African women in the media have been urged to effectively showcase their talents and not limit themselves by trying to conform to norms.
Entrepreneur and filmmaker, Biola Alabi who is CEO of Biola Alabi Media gave the advice in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday in her keynote address at the opening of the 2019 African Women in the Media Conference.
“ As women in the media, we have a lot of work to do. Help each other…continue to showcase each other…push other women to the front of the line. Be a connector. Tell their stories in your space.
“ Don’t look at your fellow woman as intimidation, you are on the same side. Find a way to work with them. If you can’t work with them you can work around them.
“ If we are truly going to change the African narrative we have to redefine what we want African women to be. Showcase who you are,” she stated.
According to her, women in the media should redefine models and represent realities.
She noted that to be successful in their careers, women sometimes have to remove themselves from a toxic work environment to a place that elevates them.
Alabi stressed the importance of equipping women with the capacity to take on the stage; filling the gap for more female experts and voices; and the importance of balanced and truthful narratives.
She urged journalists to be more sensitive about the impact of how we construct news reports around sexual assault.
Let’s educate each other and give the victims the courage to tell their stories.
