Women Radio 91.7 has perfected plans to stage its inaugural “The ReportHer Awards,” a gender-balanced project, on July 8, 2023, to recognise media organisations and journalists, who prioritise women and their issues.

In five categories, namely Television, Radio, Print, Digital and Journalism, the awards seek to acknowledge objective and gender sensitive reporting and encourage gender-balanced reportage for nation building.

A total number of 104 entries have been received and are currently being assessed by a panel of four independent judges.

An analysis of data on media reportage of women by the International Press Centre (IPC) at a dialogue, organised by the station last year, revealed that only a small percentage of print media increased their reportage of female candidates.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the broadcast station, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, the media remains the most powerful tool in shaping public perception.

She submitted that only the media could make the public perceive women more by giving adequate coverage, using more women as sources, analysts, guests and giving them prime time as their male counterparts.

Okewale-Sonaiya stated that, “while we thank the media for the efforts made so far in reporting women, we should aim for a 50:50 balance reportage by deliberately making women an integral part of editorials and features.”

She said the awards would provide opportunity to publicly acknowledge the media platforms that were deliberate and intentional in reporting women.

The event is to hold in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, with support from UNWomen and the Government of Canada.