As the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, a female Journalist based in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Tuna Marial Kau, has said that despite the great contributions they make to society, they still encounter multiple challenges in accessing information.
She told Radio Tamazuj that she has practiced journalism for five years and despite work-related challenges, has been actively advocating the voluntary return of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes in Wau.
Tuna says curiosity motivated her to join journalism which she uses to keep the public informed, especially with peace messages.
She says the challenges female journalists face cannot cow them and that the profession is not a preserve of men.
“With such challenges, we cannot give up as women. This shows that the media profession is not only for men but also for women,” Tuna says. “We need to tell other people that we are able to do what men can do in the media field.”
She says female scribes can perform as well as their male counterparts.
“We can go for news coverage from morning and come back to write the same stories just like male journalists. We are fighting to tell people that we are able to do journalism work,” she says.
Tuna also says female journalists are harassed by undisciplined individuals. The other issue she says affects them is poor pay which has not prevented them from practicing their profession.
She calls on ladies willingly to join the media industry not to fear.