Career Choices for Female Journalism Students: A Case in Zambia

There are increasing numbers of female journalism students in training institutions in North America, Europe and Asia (Frohlich 2004; Creedon 1993; Kosicki & Becker 1992; Peterson 1988).
However, there is a disproportionate number of practising female journalists who graduate from these programmes (Jurkowitz 2003). University of Zambia (UNZA) records of graduates in the Department of Mass Communication indicate that more women than men graduate as journalists. However, while female students in their entry year declare that they want to be trained as journalists and to work in the newsroom, by
the third and fourth year their career direction seems to change. They lose interest in traditional journalism reporting and begin to prefer public relations and other specialisations in the communications industry. Even those who at graduation accept reporting positions in the newsrooms, pursue alternative careers within the first three years. What drives females out of the newsroom? This paper advances the argument that culturally based gender roles are a significant factor in the careers of female journalists in Zambia. It posits that additional influences on career choices are grounded in socialisation, biased attitudes,and cultural beliefs and are gender based.

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