An activist and a former journalist, Masanga formed WEFSA in response to the need to cater for female journalists and other women who “continue to be repressed in the mass media”.
“When female journalists are empowered enough to speak out about the harassment and discrimination they encounter in their workplaces, they begin to promote the voices of grassroots women in the media in powerful ways.”
WEFSA is a network of female journalists from Africa who want to see a continent where women are empowered to speak with one collective voice to a gender sensitive mass media. The organisation was formed in South Africa in 2008.
It started off as Women Empowerment Foundation Southern Africa, but changed after repeated calls from female journalists to be part of the regional network.
Masanga told The Zimbabwean that because the challenges faced by African female journalists were the same, the organisation was extended to incorporate journalists from Ghana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, among others.
“The difference with the organisational structure of WEFSA is that it is built on real life experiences by female journalists who have experienced the challenges of the profession first hand in their various newsrooms,’’ she said. “The organisation aims at promoting a just media that recognises and acknowledges the roles of female journalists and challenges gender stereotypes.”
WEFSA programmes revolve around the themes of media, gender equality and gender-based violence.
“The organisation promotes the visibility of female journalists. It also develops empowerment leadership training modules for them to build a critical mass of reporters who are articulate and able to challenge gender inequalities in media institutions.”
Post published in: News