Botswana & Lesotho: Workshop boosts gender aware reporting

Journalists from Botswana and Lesotho gathered in Gaborone for a five-day workshop to spark change in how media tells stories and whose voices are heard. Participants explored fundamental gender issues, exchanged experiences and sharpened gender aware reporting skills that amplify women’s voices as essential sources.

Fourteen journalists from Botswana Television, Radio Botswana, YTV, The Patriot Group, Duma FM, the Lesotho News Agency, and Informative Newspaper attended. The workshop was hosted as part of the Media Parity Capacity Building Programme, led by Gender Links and CFI Media Development, involving 22 media outlets in five Southern African countries championing gender equality in stories and workplaces.

Pamela Dube, Media Parity country facilitator and long-time gender in media activist, emphasised the urgency of this work:

“Gender equality in media is crucial for shaping norms that unlock potential for democracy and sustainable development in Southern Africa. Gender aware reporting is also smart business. With shrinking media revenues and digital disruption, inclusive content for women taps into a significant, underserved audience.”

Reflecting on media landscape

In a session exploring women’s representation in media across Botswana and Lesotho, journalists outlined how male-dominated newsroom leadership sidelines women’s perspectives. They remarked on gaps, such as:

• Women continue to be missing in news content, as expert voices and even on issues like reproductive health and abortion
• Photojournalists lack gender training, resulting in biased or negative portrayals.
• Media content is urban-focused, sidelining rural and marginalised communities.
• Election coverage in Lesotho (2023) and Botswana (2024) featured minimal women’s voices, though television performed slightly better.
• Sports journalism still male-dominated, leaving issues affecting women – such as harassment, safety and menstrual health – largely ignored.

Culture influences media

Discussions examining culture, norms and exclusion highlighted how entrenched gender binaries impact media coverage. While both Botswana and Lesotho have constitutions, laws, and policies upholding equal rights, societal attitudes often undermine them. LGBTIQ communities, women in politics and people with disabilities are frequently discriminated against or rendered invisible in coverage. Failure to report on transgender rights or disability issues perpetuates harmful stereotypes and entrenches exclusion.

Linking global frameworks

The workshop connected gender realities to broader commitments, such as: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), SADC Gender Protocol, Beijing Platform for Action, and UN Sustainable Development Goals – especially SDG 5 on gender equality. Both Botswana and Lesotho have national policies aligning with global frameworks, but participants pointed out that implementation rarely filters down to communities. Media, they agreed, holds a responsibility to bridge this gap by promoting awareness and driving accountability.

Practical reporting skills

Context discussions set the stage, but the workshop focused on practical skills and tools journalists can immediately apply. Participants learned about diversifying sources, using gender audits, checklists and editorial reviews, and language to challenge, not reinforce, stereotypes. They also explored Solutions Journalism, reporting evidence-based stories of resilience and responses to social issues, instead of only problems. Journalists shared other suggestions for shifting reporting practices.

• Develop directories of women experts to help expand sourcing and voices.
• Build trust with women sources through relationship-building and supportive programmes.
• Train editors and photojournalists to ensure inclusive content at every stage of production.
• Collaborate across borders to share resources, content and strategies.

Watch for stories!

The final day turned ideas and learning into action in story planning and pitching. Journalists identified editorial opportunities for gender stories at topical moments, such as International Days, G20 Summit in South Africa and 16 Days of Activism – while also investigating pressing national issues like women’s political leadership, child marriage, fertility stigma, economic inequality and the impact of technology. In the upcoming months, ideas and pitches will grow into powerful, gender-aware stories, supported by ongoing mentorship and small reporting stipends. Journalists ended the week with fresh energy, commitment and concrete methods to produce balanced, inclusive and compelling stories.