Andrew
Sunday Mail Reporter
Fifty-six young and upcoming female journalists benefited from a women mentorship programme organised by Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) in Harare.
Running under the theme: “#NxtGenJourno” the three-day programme, which ends today, will be moved to Gweru and Bulawayo next month.
The Sunday Mail Editor Mrs Victoria Ruzvidzo, Zimbabwe Independent Editor Ms Faith Zaba, Daily News Deputy Managing Editor Ms Anne Mpalume and Ms Martha Mamombe from ZiFM Radio mentored young female journalists during the workshop. In an interview, FNF programme manager Mrs Fungisai Sithole said the initiative seeks to prepare and mentor young journalists working in newsrooms.
“The core of our work is the development of young people,” she said.
“We want media that is professional, media that is value-driven and we want media that is reflective and that is the core of our foundation.
“This is why we started this mentorship programme to bring young and upcoming journalists to a forum that prepares them for the newsroom.”
Mrs Fungisai said the mentorship programme was created to address gender disparities in the media sector.
“Statistics from tertiary institutions show that there are more females (in journalism school) but when it comes to the field numbers are very low. Our contribution is to try and make sure that our newsrooms are gender-friendly and balanced environments.
“We are hoping through this project that once they are trained they will bring value to the newsroom and also that the journalism industry will begin to see the value in having women assuming leadership positions,” added Mrs Sithole.
Freelance journalist Ms Tanaka Fetinandi applauded the mentorship programme.
“It is important to have such programmes where we discuss as young journalists challenges we are facing in the media sector,” she said.
“We are also getting mentorship from seniors who have already made it in the field,” she said.
Ms Kudzai Kanjasi, one of the mentees said the workshop will equip young female journalists with skills required to flourish in the industry.
“I am just coming from college and l did not have interest in studying journalism, but because of this programme l have changed my mind.
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