hirteen Malawian female journalists are among 98 graduates who recently completed a Wan-Ifra Women in News Leadership Accelerator programme.
It is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women in the media industry.
The graduation ceremony, held on December 13, brought together virtually scribes from Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe to celebrate their accomplishment and growth as media leaders.
Speaking during one of the sessions, Wan-Ifra Win deputy executive director Jane Godia, emphasized the programme’s dual mission of achieving gender equality in news content and within media organisations.
“We promote gender equality in two folds; ensuring equality in the content of the news we consume and fostering the development and acceleration of women into leadership positions within media organisations.
“Our core mission is to build women’s careers and help them ascend to positions of leadership and management, using coaching as a key tool. The growing number of requests to join the leadership accelerator highlights a clear demand for women to play greater roles in decision making,” she said.
Godia expressed optimism that the training and coaching will benefit not only the participants, but also contribute to diversity, inclusion and gender equity in the media industry.
One of the coaches at WIN, Tamala Chirwa, shared her satisfaction with the programme’s impact, highlighting how it equips women with skills and confidence to break through barriers in a traditionally male dominated field.
“It has been rewarding to see these women grow and realise their potential as leaders. Their progress demonstrates that when women are given the right tools and support, they can achieve incredible results,” she said.
One of the participants, MIJ radio Journalist Alice Msangambe, praised the programme for its transformative impact in her professional and personal growth.
She highlighted how strategic newsroom management, personal and professional branding courses gave her new insights into effective leadership.
“This programme has equipped me with practical tools to navigate newsroom challenges. I now feel more confident in my ability to manage teams, advocate for gender balance in news content and inspire other women journalists,” she said.
Msangambe also emphasised the importance of mentorship in supporting women to break through barriers and rise to leadership positions.
The completion of this programme marks a significant milestone for the journalists, who now stand poised to influence the future of the media industry in Malawi and beyond.
The nine month Wan- Ifra Win Leadership Accelerator is designed to equip female journalists and editors with essential leadership skills to drive change within their organiaations and the media landscape.
It combines training, coaching and mentoring to address leadership challenges and promote gender equity in newsrooms.
Participants engaged in a series of comprehensive courses covering leadership dynamics, strategic communication, newsroom management and work-life balance.
Some of the courses offered during the training included how to manage and prevent sexual harassment, artificial intelligence and media, change management, foundations of digital strategy, mental health and emotional well-being, critical thinking and negotiation skills, emotional intelligence in the workplace, managing relationships at the workplace, gender equality and inclusion.
These sessions aimed to cultivate the confidence and skills necessary for women to take up leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to their organisations.
The 13 are Alice Msangambe, Alinafe Mlamba, Chisomo Ngulube, Catherine Tinto, Chimwemwe Mikwala, Doreen Sonani, Faith Kaunde, Ruth Kulaisi, Melipher Chiguduli, Oliver Phiri, Pilirani Tambala and Penelope Kamanga.
The programme is designed for journalists and editors working Africa, the Arab region and Southeast Asia.
It accepts about 150
