Journalists urged to produce inclusive, gender-balanced news coverage

19 June 2025, 7:33 pm

By Annet Nakato

Journalists have been urged to produce news content that reflects the voices of both men and women, in a call to promote inclusive and impartial journalism.

The call was made by Doreen Sempe during a training session for journalists at Buwama FM. The workshop formed part of a broader initiative aimed at empowering female journalists, spearheaded by the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) in partnership with the Finnish Foundation for Media and Development (VIKES).

Sempe highlighted the importance of visiting various radio stations to engage journalists who are often excluded from centralised training programmes due to their work commitments. “Many journalists are unable to leave their workstations to attend training sessions held at distant venues. That is why we are bringing the training directly to them,” she explained.

She urged all journalists to strive for objectivity and to avoid producing news content that is biased or one-sided.

During the same workshop, Catherine Apalat, the project coordinator, encouraged female journalists to have confidence in themselves and to aspire to leadership positions in the media, such as managerial and editorial roles.

Speaking with the Editor of Buwama FM, Vincent Kayiwa expressed gratitude to UMWA for organising the training, noting that it enabled all staff members at the station to participate. “We often miss out on such valuable training because we can’t leave the office, but this time it was brought to us, and we are truly grateful,” he said.

The training is part of ongoing onsite sessions aimed at building capacity and promoting gender equity within Uganda’s media landscape. So far, eight radio stations in Northern Uganda and four in the Central Region have received this training.