BOTSWANA: Women News Sources Increase to 20 Percent-gmps

Women have become more forthcoming as news sources than before as indicated by findings of the Gender and Media Progress Study (GMPS) that show that during the past seven years women sources have risen from 4% to 20% in Botswana.

In presenting these findings, Binki Kerileng a gender activist, said that during her time as a councillor she would attend rallies and functions with her male counterparts yet she would not be quoted.

She said that the media gave more attention to what male politicians said as compared to women therefore creating a gap between men and women sources.

Kerileng further said that women in politics should not only be given the podium to shine when elections are close but it should be an ongoing process. Matshidiso Morewane of The Botswana Press Council said it is only when there are certain events that issues of gender are reported on.

Morewane who was also part of the team that carried out the GMPS pointed out that during the research she observed that women journalists were more interested in being presenters as compared to men who held different high positions.

She was commenting in line with the findings that indicate that men hold higher positions as compared to women.

The findings also indicated that men are dominant in reporting hard news beats such as politics, business, labour and finance.

Govenious Toka of Sunday Standard said it is the duty of women to make sure that they liberate themselves. He said that generally it is women who choose to go for softer beats of reporting that are considered feminine. He gave examples of beats such as health, education and entertainment.

The study has been running from October 2009 and was completed in April this year. GMPS is a follow up of the Gender and Media Baseline Study (GMBS) that was conducted in 2003 as well as other studies such as the Francophone Gender and Media Study which was done in 2008.

The findings of the GMPS indicate that Botswana is now slightly above the regional average of 19% by 1%. Botswana is rated fifth in the SADC region, alongside South Africa, Namibia and Malawi. Lesotho is at the top of the range with 32%, Seychelles at 31%, Madagascar at 23% and Tanzania at 21%. However at the regional level the number of women sources ranks poorly at 19% as compared to men who are at 81%.