‘Let the Pen Change the Narrative’

The Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Centre and Initiator of the Women’s Situation Room (WSR), Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh, has stressed the need for journalists to change the narrative by reporting women in politics in an impartial manner.

Making remarks on Tuesday at a one-day media engagement, Cllr. Chesson-Wureh said the gender disparity in politics is worrisome, as such, journalists’ reportage during these elections should be on a fair basis.

According to her, the media should provide the space were women can’t have equal opportunities to present their agenda in these elections.

She added that the gender disparity seen in women in politics is something worrisome, noting that journalists should use their role wisely in propagating a balanced information. 

“One of the things that worries us is how do you cover women in politics, the gender disparity that we see in politics. When we ask why we are told that women don’t have money and the man have money to give the journalists,’’ she asserted.

“Another is the manner on which journalists report women in politics, they focus on what’s between their legs then what between their ears and that is worries us. “We also know that when women are in politics, the violence that covers them is worse than the violence that covers men,” Cllr. Chesson-Wureh pointed out.

“We all know the power of the pen, but it will be great if that power is being used for good. It will be great if that power is being used to change the narrative of Liberia. It will be great if we be accountable. I am asking that as we move forward, please start reporting what between your ears, let us compete in real time, let her say what she’s taking, let us look at women in a gender lens, let us report fairly on women,” she added.

The workshop was held under the theme: ‘‘Responsible Reporting and Reporting with a Gender Lens organized by Angie Brooks.’’

Meanwhile, key issues during the workshop was the role of a journalist in an election by Facia Harris, Impartiality and Balance Reporting by Eva Flomo from the ECOWAS Radio and Gender Sensitive Reporting by Ellen Nah Sammie from the Women Voices.