The media in the country can save communities from the adverse effects of inequality between women and men, if media scaled up reporting on the subject. This was established on Wednesday in Kawale, Traditional Authority Tsabango, and Lilongwe district.
Speaking during Global Media Monitoring Project survey which aimed at assessing media ,on how it portrays issues of public interest like inequality cases held at Counseling of the Adolescent and Youth Organization(CAYO).The research is hope for change to Politics and government, Economy, Science and Health, Social and Legal, Crime and Violence and Celebrity, Arts and Media, Sports reporting.
The Executive Director of Youth and Children Right Shield and Program Coordinator for Malawi Global Media Monitoring Project Bright Kampaundi, state that media is a bridge between government and people in as far as information in concerned. “Media plays a major role in mobilizing communities in issues of inequality through education and information. Unfortunately, there is little awareness on inequality issues because the media rarely report on,” said Kampaundi.
Kampaundi further add, inequality between man and women and other important issues need to be treated with total attentions. For instance, the earning gap between women and men affect almost every aspect of our lives. This is why the media need to scale up reporting on the various aspects of inequality.
Facilitator of the workshop Anorld Banga Mlelemba lamented Malawi has resources but because of challenges on gender stereotypes and gender inequality the country remains under developed. The study is important as it sought to broaden knowledge of issues affecting Malawians to the media thereby improving coverage of the issues and the quality.
Participant to the workshop Cliff Chisale Manyela identified lack of sounding understanding of the complex subject matter as one of major hiccups in reporting inequality issues in the country. “With this understanding, the media could effectively play a watchdog role influencing implementation of sound policies that are developed to respond to gender bias issues,” said Manyela.
Gender inequality in Malawi continues to worsen the country’s development if collective effort misses in fighting against the problem. Therefore, for Malawi to develop need to adapt the policy of unity in order to change and transform Malawi for the best.
