MISA-Zimbabwe on 17 October 2008 commissioned its findings on the levels and extent of gender balance and sensitivity in the media’s coverage of the March 2008 elections through the launch of its Walking the Talk publication which emanates from extensive media monitoring of the country’s weeklies and the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).
The gender report is a multi-media product comprising the report, a photo-journal on the media’s portrayal of women during the period under review and an audio CD of interviews with female politicians that contested the elections.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Harare, Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Co-ordinator Abigail Gamanya, urged MISA-Zimbabwe to remain undeterred in its lobby and advocacy activities for the emergence of an environment that fosters freedom of expression, media freedom, independence, diversity, pluralism and self-sufficiency as envisioned under the 1991 Windhoek Declaration. MAZ comprises MISA-Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) and Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef).
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of cognitive prizes to outstanding journalists and organisations by MISA-Zimbabwe Chairperson Loughty Dube under the organisation’s inaugural Gender and Media Awards as part of MISA-Zimbabwe’s efforts to inculcate and foster gender balance and sensitivity in the media’s coverage of the country’s socio-economic and political issues.
Of the 11 journalists whose coverage of the elections was considered in the competition, Kholwani Nyathi of the privately owned The Standard newspaper, scooped the prize for being outstanding in striking gender balance and awareness in his coverage of the elections.
The Financial Gazette won in the newspaper category for its high percentage of analytical and feature articles that featured women’s voices.
Similarly recognised was The Women’s Trust for being the most visible women’s organisation through its campaigns encouraging women to participate in the presidential, parliamentary, senatorial and local government elections held on 29 March 2008.
