Tag: women empowerment

By Nelly Moraa.

Women Journalists in Kenya Embrace Technology, But Digital Gaps Persist, New Report Finds.

NAIROBI MARCH 7^, 2025- A new report on the use of technology by women journalists in mainstream media in Kenya, highlights critical challenges affecting their professional growth, including digital safety threats, work life balance struggles and limited leadership opportunities. The report was launched by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television, Kenya chapter (IAWRT-Kenya) in partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications APC.

It reveals that although women journalists in Kenya are increasingly embracing digital tools, they still experience cyber bullying, harassment, suffer burnout from the demands of long hours of digital journalism, that cloud personal time, and are under-represented in decision making and digital transformation initiatives

Dr Grace Githaiga, Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O), Kenya ICT Action Network ( KICTANet ) who delivered the keynote address at the launch hailed IAWRT for readily accepting to undertake the study.  She said the study highlights the realities in the media and thus a tool for evidence-based intervention.
“The data from the report will be instrumental in lobbying for better policies that will enable women journalists’ benefit from technology rather than being disadvantaged by it.”
She called for urgent intervention to promote gender equality in leadership, fostering diversity and addressing the systemic bias evident in media houses as highlighted in the report.
The study conducted between November 2024- Feb 2025, surveyed both male and female accredited journalists to compare gender-based experiences with technology.

The Association of Progressive Communications Subgrants Coordinator Vassilis Chryssos welcomed the report saying its findings will inform ongoing studies on how women face risks online.
“The report offers a great opportunity for collaboration in addressing the challenges women journalists face in the digital space,” said Vassilis.

IAWRT Kenya Chapter, Chairperson Josephine Karani who also serves as Board Treasurer of IAWRT international highlighted the organization’s continuous effort in implementing projects towards women empowerment in media.
She revealed of several key initiatives that include a project in partnership with UNESCO, to monitor and map violations against women journalists which is still ongoing on https://report.iawrt.or.ke/views/map for those keen on reporting such violations.
Karani said IAWRT pioneered a mentorship program for female journalists working with institutions training journalists and has successfully mentored about 150 young professionals.

“The projects we undertake are helping policy makers in formulating laws and regulations that support women in media,” she stated.
She said the new report aligns with this year’s international women’s day theme of ‘Accelerating Action for Gender Equality’.

Rachel Nakitare, a seasoned journalist and IAWRT’s events coordinator  said the organization strives to contribute to  the Beijing Platform for Action Goals, particularly Section  J which seeks to increase the participation and access of women to expression and decision making in and through the media and new technologies. “As governments, civil society and development agencies gather for the  sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69),  the priority is to review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action .” she said.

The report reinforces the need for gender inclusive digital spaces in journalism, coinciding with the International Women’s Day celebrations. The global day recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It serves as a call to action for accelerating gender equality worldwide.

Its recommendations include developing strong media policies to ensure safe digital workspaces, training on digital safety, enhanced female journalists’ engagement with professional networks.

IAWRT is a global network of women in broadcasting, digital media, and journalism. Founded in 1951, it operates in 14 countries including Kenya to advance gender equality and enhance women professionalism in media.

Read the full report here https://iawrt.or.ke/downloads/   

By Purity Kinuthia.

The position of women in mainstream media continues to be a crucial topic of discussion in an
era where technology advancement is changing journalism.

On February 8, 2025, the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Kenya Chapter held an online webinar to validate findings from its research on the use of technology by women in mainstream media in Kenya.

The study, commissioned by IAWRT and supported by the Association of Progressive Communication (APC), examined how women practicing journalism are leveraging technology, the challenges they face, and potential solutions to bridge existing gender gaps in media spaces.

The research revealed that female journalists have already taken steps to embrace emerging technology even though they continue to face significant challenges.

During the webinar, lead researcher Lucy Kilalo noted that the study covered mainstream media, community radio stations, and regional media organizations, with a sample of 97 respondents, 80% of whom were female, primarily aged between 25 and 34 years.

Findings from the research indicated significant growth toward gender equality in digital media departments, though disparities still exist.

Ms. Kilalo, for instance, noted that in focus group discussions, a female journalist from the Kenya News Agency shared that they are often placed in roles requiring software use, while men were tasked with operations involving hardware tools in newsrooms.

The research further highlighted both the positive and negative impacts of interacting with technology tools in media work for female journalists.

Positive impacts of technology on female journalists.

Technology presents immense opportunities for female journalists, including:

• Increased visibility – Journalists can create personal brands that extend beyond their workplaces.
• Equal opportunities in content creation – Technological advancements have made affordable hardware and software tools more accessible, democratizing content creation and enabling more female journalists to thrive in media production.
• Amplifying women’s voices – Digital platforms provide avenues for women to share stories and perspectives that might otherwise be underrepresented.
• Access to information – Technology allows female journalists to access reliable and credible information more easily, improving their reporting.

Challenges posed by technology.

On the flip side, technology has also introduced several challenges, including:

• Online harassment – Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) remains a significant issue, with female journalists frequently targeted, sometimes due to the stories they cover.
• Algorithmic biases – AI-driven content distribution can reinforce existing inequalities in media representation.
• Monetization disparities – Women in media often struggle to monetize content at the same level as their male counterparts.
• Tech tools and social media platforms water down real-person relations – The rise of tech tools and social media platforms has reduced face-to-face interactions, affecting newsroom dynamics.

Barriers to the adoption of new technology.

• Gender bias – Gender bias remains a challenge in technology adoption, with more trust being placed in men and the perception that they are more tech-savvy. This hinders female journalists from being assigned certain tasks, such as videography roles in newsrooms.
• Inadequate finances – Funding for up-to-date technology can be a challenge, preventing some journalists from accessing the tools they need to fully explore technological opportunities. This further exacerbates gender inequality.
• Organizational resistance – Some media organizations are slow to adopt new technology, making it difficult for female journalists to fully utilize their tech skills at work.
• Cost of premium software subscriptions – The expense of subscribing to premium software can be a barrier to accessing essential digital tools.

The way forward;

During the webinar, discussions focused on ways to better support female journalists in navigating technology’s challenges.

The C.E.O of Kenya ICT Action Network  (KICTANet),  Grace Githaiga, posed the question: “What is the one thing you would advise a female journalist to adopt in the era of technological advancement?”

Ms. Kilalo responded by emphasizing the importance of continuous training.

“Female journalists need to join professional bodies that provide access to training opportunities that can enhance their skills. Organizations such as IAWRT, the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) are among those offering such opportunities,” she said.

Natalie Kakai also raised concerns about artificial intelligence and its potential to replace human workers in the industry.

Media gurus Jemimah Mwakisha, Rose Lukalo and Merceline Nyambala pointed out the need to mainstream gender sensitive reporting in the midst of technological innovations, the need to embrace female content creators on the online spaces and inject professional journalism in their work, and taking the report recommendations to the next level respectively. 

Recheal Nakitare pointed out that beyond the research, IAWRT remains committed to continuous training and mentorship for female journalists to ensure they thrive in media spaces in Kenya and beyond.

The research report, set to be officially released on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, is expected to inform policymakers, media organizations, and educational institutions on necessary interventions to support women journalists in utilizing the full potential of technology.

The findings and recommendations from this study serve as a critical roadmap for achieving greater gender equality in the media industry.

The webinar highlighted the urgent need to bridge the gender digital divide and create an enabling environment where female journalists can thrive in an increasingly technology-driven media space.

With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, women in media can fully make use of technology to advance their careers and contribute meaningfully to journalism in Kenya and beyond.

The significance of AI in technology debates cannot be overstated, as its wide-ranging influence extends to the media and various other sectors. Recognizing the disruptive potential of AI, the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) organized a webinar on July 7th, 2023, in collaboration with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the US Embassy. The event featured guest speaker John Walubengo, an IT lecturer at Multi Media University, and was moderated by Grace Githaiga, CEO and Convenor at KICTANet.

During the webinar, Walubengo emphasized the importance for journalists to comprehend the essential functions of AI technology in order to effectively leverage its capabilities. Given their pivotal role as intermediaries between the public and societal events, understanding how artificial intelligence works is crucial for journalists to carry out their responsibilities. By embracing AI, journalists can make informed choices and navigate their careers in an increasingly competitive media landscape.

One notable development in the media industry is the rise of automated news, also known as algorithmic journalism or robot journalism. This rapidly growing technology employs AI and natural language generation to automatically generate news articles or summaries without human intervention. It has applications in financial reporting, breaking news stories, weather updates, and other areas of coverage.

AI harbors both benefits and risks for journalism, as highlighted by Walubengo. On one hand, AI-enabled tools can streamline content creation, distribution, editing, transcription, and data analysis processes, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. However, there are risks to consider. If AI systems are trained on biased data or inadequately trained to address such issues, they can perpetuate and amplify existing biases. Ethical concerns arise from the potential misuse of AI-generated content, such as deepfakes, which can deceive audiences. Privacy and transparency also emerge as critical ethical concerns in the media industry when utilizing AI.

Grace Githaiga, the webinar moderator and CEO of KICTANet, advised journalists to approach AI with caution while embracing its potential opportunities and benefits. Githaiga emphasized that early adopters must continually learn and adapt as new advancements emerge. By embracing lifelong learning and keeping up with new opportunities, the media can discover innovative ways to leverage AI effectively.

Despite the inherent threats and risks, AI’s presence in journalism is inevitable. Media practitioners must embrace AI while remaining mindful of the potential risks and harms it may pose. Striking a balance between leveraging AI’s advantages and managing its associated challenges is essential for harnessing its potential in the media industry.

IAWRT plays a significant role in exploring the intersection of AI and journalism. As AI technologies continue to shape the media landscape, IAWRT promotes discussions and initiatives that focus on the ethical and responsible implementation of AI in journalism. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, IAWRT aims to empower women professionals in the field to harness the potential of AI while addressing the challenges and ensuring the preservation of journalistic integrity.

---

By Raylene Kambua Digital Media Associate IAWRT, and Neema Mujesia, Media Science Researcher and Analyst