Female Journalists in Nigeria and Africa have been urged to occupy their space in investigative journalism to ensure that all underreported issues affecting the people are covered.
This call was made by news media stakeholders during a panel session titled, ‘Spaces for Women in Investigative Journalism’ at the Africa Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) 2021, which was held in Abuja.
The panellists included Justina Asishana, the Niger State Correspondent of The Nation Newspaper, Joke Fayemi, Head of Station, Raypower FM, Kaduna, Sharon Ijasan, an Investigative Reporter with TVC Nigeria, Adie Vanessa Offiong, a CNN Reporter in Nigeria and Stella Ijaji, the Managing Editor of Daily Trust.
Asishana, in her contribution, said that there are few women in the Investigative Journalism Space as a lot of women are reluctant to occupy the space because of the bias that comes with it.
According to her, female journalists needed to be determined and show that they can take the space in Investigative Journalism for themselves.
Stella Iyaji hinted at how female journalists can excel in investigative reporting being a male-dominated field of journalism.
“You do not struggle for that space by doing the normal thing. You have to deliver and prove that you can do it. As a woman journalist, you have to work double more than your male counterparts”, she said.
Adie Vanessa Offiong also aired her view. She encouraged up-and-coming female Journalists to give room for mentoring in order to enhance their careers.
“The media space is shrinking and it is only the tough who can survive in it. Every young female journalist should aspire to be one of those people who are tough and can survive the shrinking media space,” said Offiong.
Corroborating Offiong, Sharon Ijasan lamented that young female journalists are not ready for the hard work required in journalism.
“There is no leadership without service. A lot of people feel that extending their service means they are being used but they are wrong. There is nothing like being used. If as a young person, you always feel being used when sent to do some work, it is a pathway to failure, the earlier you know it, the better,” said Ijasan.
“If you are a young person and do not want to pass through the process by serving, thinking you believe in miracles and not hard work, you are on your own. Just remember that someone is watching and people are observing how you carry out your work, how diligent you do it determine how far you can go.”
As much as it is important for female journalists to do investigative stories, Joke Fayemi, however advised them to prioritize their safety.
Fayemi further stated that excuses should be kept at bay when working as she pointed out that excuses have been one of the reasons why female journalists have not been able to take up the space in media and investigative journalism.
The Panelists recommended that more funds be dedicated for investigative journalism with more consideration given to women who are willing to go into investigations while they stressed the need for networks and organizations to address the state of mental health of female journalists who are into investigative journalism.
