Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru – Journalists in Gweru have been urged to amplify women’s voices when reporting and avoid stereotyping female candidates since there is low representation in politics.
Speaking at an engagement which was organized by Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) on Election reporting highlighting the role of the media in reporting on women and politics, Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) Midlands’s coordinator, Locadia Mavhudzi said there was need for gender sensitive reporting.
“Allow women’s voices and report on their participation in elections. There is a need for the media to be gender sensitive. The Media should not sensationalize and stereotype for women in politics, as we already have a low representation of women in politics. So let’s encourage women in politics through our writing,” said Mavhudzi”
Speaking at the same event, Connect Stories Editor Kelvin Kasiwulaya, said it was important for the media to share insights in order to come up with in-depth analysis in news reporting.
He added enterprise reporting was also good for journalists to go beyond just covering events and explore the underlying facts.
“It is important to analyze, background understanding and explore the forces that are driving those events. You cannot inform when you are not informed,” said Kasiwulaya
Sunday News Editor Limukani Ncube Editor urged Journalist to prioritize planning in elections coverage.
Another key aspect discussed during the training was reporting in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world.
Journalists were given guidance on how to navigate such atmospheres and report stories during this election season. This included understanding the changing political landscape, being adaptable and flexible, and effectively communicating information to the public.
