Women in News programme launches in MENA region

WIN is a four-year, multi-million Euro programme conducted in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It addresses the gender imbalance in media, while mobilising the industry to create collectively an environment that supports conditions for women in media and their organisations, to succeed.

Applications are now open until 31 January for women in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine who have editorial or senior journalist roles in newspapers or online news media organisations. Women from media companies in Jordan and Lebanon are particularly encouraged to apply.

The editorial leadership programme includes one-to-one career mentorship and intensive training in media management and leadership skills.

"The launch of the programme in the region is an exciting and much needed development," said Fatemah Farag, publisher of Welad el Baled in Egypt and a WIN steering committee member.

"Audiences are demanding more from their news media and we need to ensure women have a voice by encouraging strong female leadership in newsrooms. WAN-IFRA's Women in News programme is an essential first step for establishing women leaders in the news industry."

Southern African success

The programme has seen success in other regions, notably Southern Africa, where 44% of WIN participants had been promoted in their newsrooms and 84% felt more motivated to remain in the industry, as a direct result of the programme.

WIN works with newspapers and their high-potential female employees to overcome the gender gap in management and senior editorial positions. It does so by equipping programme participants with strategies, skills and support networks to advance their careers and contribute to the growth of strong local media enterprises.

Through this initiative with its partners, WAN-IFRA raises awareness and provides practical advice to news media on the business case for diversity in leadership and how to create an environment that supports the progression of women to management positions.

The Women in News Gender and Media Freedom Strategy combines WAN-IFRA's global experience in running advocacy and development initiatives in support of media freedom and democracy with the first-hand knowledge of the impact gender-based programmes can have on media and society.

Candidates can apply in either Arabic or English, by visiting www.womeninnews.org.