DAY THREE –EVENING
The evening session had most of the organizations pitching stories a bit nervous. They only had two minutes to pitch their ideas. And Jina wasn’t one to let the pitchers exceed their allocated time. But I must say they all the pitchers did a great job! I was won over by one or two of them I must admit. GPI has got some more great stories coming their way.
The second session in the evening is what I didn’t want to end. Well of course it was the yummy tea and snacks that kept me going... J But most of all it was listening to women who have gone ahead of me today. Women journalists who bore the brunt of male chauvinism to be to make it possible for Kenyan journalists like myself have a say. Rosemary Orlale and Jane Thuo.
The challenge that was pretty clear was that female journalists not just in Kenya but across Eastern Africa face a paternalistic society. There was an overall call for female journalists to stand up and prove themselves.
Though one prominent entertainment journalist Smitta was quick to point out the progress women have made. Kenya now has Female publishers and editors of Magazines and Newsrooms, as well as the numerous forums available to us, such as WAM and of course, GPI.
I was a bit concerned by the battered and struggling woman attitude in the room. I feel a lot of Kenyan women need to step up, unafraid of the notions of some topics being ‘too hard for women to report’. And just pay attention to doing what they believe in.
It was a healthy debate. At one point, Wairimu a freelance reporter with the BBC in Kenya stated that she would not stand to be forced to ‘become a man’ (referring to change in dressing and tone of voice as had been suggested by some other participants) to be appreciated as a journalist. That just roused more banter which just added to the excitement.
As WAM drew to a close I realized how much potential I had. And how much more there is for me to learn as a journalist. But nothing can ever replace the networks I have established. I can’t thank Jina and Anna for organizing WAM. I think we should probably call WAM …KABAM! Because it blew my mind away and just sealed it in for me. I am more determined than ever to tell the world grand stories of Africa!
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