Diversity Exchange, Issue 13, December 2010

Date: December 14, 2010

Diversity Exchange

Issue 13 | May 2010

Contents

Welcome Note

Welcome to the Diversity Exchange newsletter, a product of the Gender and Media Diversity Centre. This newsletter assists us in delivering to you relevant information, breaking news and dialogues or debates taking place in thesphere of gender and the media. While we work globally,included are first-hand perspectives from the African continent, as well as reflections in the worldwide forum. We hope that you will use this platform as a tool to voice your own thoughts on media, gender and diversity issues in times to come. Thanks for reading!


		GMDC News

After the GEM Summit: Whats next?

Following the Gender and Media Summit and Awards, Gender Links has taken several steps forward in incorporating gender throughout the media in Southern Africa. We have launched the Gender and Media Progress Study, assisted with regulatory processes,and launched a Lusophone Opinion and Commentary Service. We are also in the process of crafting a media literacy course and compiling a journal on the summit itself.

The Summit offered fertile ground to implement strategies across the region in the fight for gender equitable media. Read more…

Partnerships promote gender mainstreaming

When reflecting on the first few months of the existence of the Department of Media Technology, milestones seem to be coupled to our belief in pursuing partnerships. As a relatively young institution and an even younger department, the realisation that we could learn from, and through, other more established organisations and institutions was what moved us towards an approach to journalism studies that would give students a dynamic learning environment. Read more…

If journalists did their job

By now many are familiar with the recent Rolling Stone article calling for Uganda’s “top” homosexuals to be hanged. The story, like many others recently published in Uganda, claimed there was a gay campaign to recruit school children. This piece of “journalism” is in good company in the region, where gays and lesbians are frequently the victims of a morally bereft, voracious tabloid media. Read more…

Ear on radio

Gender Links used the GEM Summit as an opportunity to produce radio spots on the media provisions in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. The spots focused on women in media content, media education, women in the media, media regulation and specific thematic areas such as HIV and AIDS. They were supported by FES to be in line with the media provisions of the Protocol. Read more…

Hazel Trice Edney takes Black Journalism to a new future

By Carolyn Byerly
Timing is everything. When I heard that Hazel Trice Edney was leaving the National Newspaper Association (NNPA) as editor in chief a few weeks ago to start her own electronic news service, I thought, Why now? But in my heart, I knew why. Her talent and vision for Black journalism had already moved into the future, and she needed the freedom to lead it to a new conclusion. Read more…

Global Framework on Media and Information Literacy Indicators

It is time southern Africa became media literate according to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A recent meeting in Bangkok, Thailand brought together experts (including Kubi Rama, Gender Links Deputy Director) to discuss concepts around media literacy, curriculum development and education. The UNESCO expert group meeting: Global Framework on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Indicators, was held between 4-6 November and brought together experts from all regions (representing 17 countries). Read more…

Responsible journalism? Reporting on gender

The South African media has recently exploded with the coverage of the alleged rape of a young woman by three young men in a Johannesburg school. This case serves as a good example of what may or may not be considered responsible journalism. Likewise the recent case of Kenny Kunene eating sushi off of models is yet another example of how we must do better. Read more…

Eye on video

During the recent Gender and Media Summit and Awards held in October, one submission for video advocacy stood out and took home the award for Investigative Reporting (sustained reporting on a particular issue). This piece was titled Gender De-commissioned, and was produced by Melini Moses and Busisiwe Ntuli of South Africa. The judges said the journalists talk to real people about real issues. Read more…


		Partner News

Isis-WICCE

Women are still mostly left out of peace building and governance processes, despite their huge role in most of this regions wars and in society in general.

A local organisation is calling for women to have a greater role in peace building in the region and beyond. Isis Womens International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis WICCE) champions for womens empowerment worldwide. The organisation does this by documenting violations of womens rights and facilitating the exchange of information and skills to strengthen womens capacities, potential and visibility. Isis WICCE is a potential GMDC member. On 9 November, Isis WICCE joined its partner, the Centre for Women in Governance (CEWIGO), to launch the Uganda UNSCR 1325 monitoring report. The research covered the three main indicators of the resolution which are: participation, protection and prevention. Read more…


		GL Opinion & Commentaries

Speaking out against gun violence

According to a United Nations survey of 69 countries, South Africa has one of the highest firearm related homicide rates in the world, second only to Columbia. Solid updated data is lacking, but a 1999 Medical Research Council (MRC) study found that a woman was killed by her intimate partner every six hours ââ‚¬” the highest reported rate anywhere in the world. In that year, one in three women killed died because of a firearm; of those, half were shot by their intimate partner; 71% were shot in their own homes. Read more…

Human Rights Day: Are we really all equal?

I discovered that the very instrument which is supposed to be the pillar which upholds, promotes and protects human rights, is in fact gender insensitive. The text is littered with references to ââ‚¬Å“heââ‚¬ , ââ‚¬Å“himââ‚¬ and ââ‚¬Å“hisââ‚¬ rights. Read more…

Why do we hurt the people we love?

I used to have four girlfriends at the same time when I was between the ages of 22 and 24. I thought this was ââ‚¬Å“coolââ‚¬ . I now realise that I was fooling myself because it was abuse to these ladies I claimed to be in love with. It is impossible to love four women at the same time, because each and every one is going to try to give me the best she has and also each and every one deserved the best from me. It will never be possible for anyone to give four partners equal attention. Read more…


		Seminars

16 Days of Activism seminars and cyber dialogues

The Sixteen Days of Activism is a global campaign which takes place from 25 November to 10 December annually, to raise awareness around gender-based violence. Gender Links will extend its Soccer 2010 theme, Score a goal for gender equality: Halve gender based violence by 2015, and the SADC Gender Protocol targets, to the Sixteen Days of Activism this year. Part of this campaign involves seminars at GLââ‚¬â„¢s Johannesburg office as well as online cyber dialogues to connect gender activists worldwide. Gender Links, through the Gender and Media Diversity Centre, invites you to participate in the dialogues, the cyber dialogues will be available in different languages. Please join the relevant language room between 13h00 and 14h00 SA time. The table below includes dates, topics and language rooms available each day. Read more…

Librarians to meet in Botswana

Gender Links produces many books each year, hoping to change the lives of those living in southern Africa and beyond. In December GL will be taking some of these publications to the Nineteenth Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) Conference in Gaborone, Botswana on 10 December 2010. Thanks to the GMDC Chair, Kathy Matsika, the GMDC has secured participation in this regional event, which will highlight papers and discussions that address the theme: Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge Services. Read more…


		Upcoming Events

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative: Call for submissions

The SVRI would like to invite researchers, policy makers, funders, survivors, gender activists, service providers and others to network, share ideas and exciting strategies, and to feed into important international campaigns currently underway to prevent and respond to sexual violence globally. Read more…

The Persephone Miel Fellowship for Crisis Reporting. Deadline 1 February, 2011

The Persephone Miel Fellowship for Crisis Reporting is intended to give non-native English speaking media professionals the opportunity to reach audiences beyond their home countries on critical under-reported issues. Eligibility: The Persephone Miel fellowships are open to all journalists, writers, photographers, radio producers or filmmakers, staff journalists as well as freelancers who are non-native English speaking media professionals seeking to report from their home countries. Read more…

New courses at IAJ

What does social media really mean? Why is everyone talking about it? And how can you use it to sharpen your skills and enhance your currency as a working journalist? If you are a journalist, you already are a social media practitioner, using the traditional tools of your trade to reflect and connect the society around you. Now it is time to upgrade your toolkit, and be part of the most far reaching and exciting communications revolution since Gutenberg yelled Start the Presses! This hands on, interactive course goes beyond the buzzwords to cover the following areas and aspects of social media for journalists. Read more…


		GMDC Databases

Clippings

SEXTING:Youth circulate nude pictures on mobile phones_Botswana Gazzette

The newest pastime in town, amongst youth is sexting. Sexting is the act of sending or exchanging sexually explicit text messages and nude pictures over mobile phones. The name was derived by combining sex and text, as in text messages. It is usually popular in high schools and tertiary institutions. I found it suitable to write this article after what happened some few weeks ago. A girl sent nude pictures to her boyfriend after she saw nude pictures of her boyfriend on his phone, but the guy never sent his pictures, so he took the pictures and sent them to a certain magazine. Read more…

Women have a right to choose what they do – The Star

I am tempted to respond to Joseph Sindane letter, Kunene is living in his own world (The Star, November 2). He says among other things about Kunene. …Yet he has the audacity to arrive at the conclusion that Vavi was attacking him as if he is the only millionaire in this country. Vavi spoke out against, the BEE types who blow up to R700 000 in one night on parties…I am told at one party sushi was served from the bodies of half-naked ladies. Read more…

Creating winners_The Voice

Four Media women participants in the WAN IFRA, Women in News (WIN) programme left the Botswana Guardian boardroom smiling after mastering how to present using Microsoft Powerpoint. This was during a one day workshop themed on Public Speaking and Presentation Skills. Read more…

Research

The post-apartheid South African state and the advancement of gender equality: the experience of the national gender machinery

This study seeks to contribute to feminist analysis of whether the post-apartheid South African state represents a model of how the state can advance gender equality. The study analyses the institutional mechanisms that have been put in place by the South African government aimed at advancing gender equality. It focuses on the Office on the Status of Women (OSW) as the entity established within the government to steer the national gender programme. The study evaluates the assertion that South Africa serves as a model for advancing gender equality is justified, by exploring whether the country has overcome the problems associated with national gender machineries globally or whether it has reproduced them. Read more…

Educational innovations and their adoption: the case of gender awareness in rural Swaziland.

Despite initiatives by the Swaziland government in conscientising the public about equal participation of women and men in development issues, most women especially in rural areas, do not attribute their economic problems or lack of economic advancement to gender inequality. The aim of this research was to find out factors that contribute to gender awareness with the aim of improving gender awareness adoption that could result in gender related behavioral change. Read more…

Sexual Practices and Levirate Marriages in Mansa District of Zambia

This study investigated sexual practices in two communities of Mansa District in Zambia. The specific objectives of the study were to examine local views on patterns of sexual behavior; determine whether extra-nuptial sex, sexual cleansing and levirate marriage are practiced in the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The study findings show that extra-nuptial sexual activity is common among the people. Extra-nuptial sex relations especially among men were very common and this has encouraged the entrenchment of transactional sex among some vulnerable girls and women. Read more…

Case Studies

Who and what makes the news_A case study of The Citizen

Use of images in the media Read more…

Does pregnancy have a shelf age? – The Standard

Zimbabwe is a signatory to the AU and UN instruments that speak gender equality and more recently the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. This Protocol urges member states to take measures to discourage the media from reinforcing gender oppression and stereotypes as well as degrading or exploiting women especially in areas of entertainment and advertising and undermining their role and position in society. Read more…

President urges youth to shun homosexuality – Sunday News

President Mugabe has called on young Zimbabweans to uphold good morals by marrying in accordance within nature and shunning homosexual unions. Speaking at the wedding of the son of his friend and prominent lawyer, Mr Abdullah Kassim, in Harare on Friday evening, he said gay marriages violated natural law. The Head of State and Government and Commanderââ‚¬”in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said young people should follow the direction nature has given. Read more…

Publications

Fear for Life: Violence against Gay Men and Men Perceived as Gay in Senegal

Violence against people on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender expression escalated in Senegal starting in early 2008. Men who identify as or are perceived to be gay increasingly became targets of popular vengeance and arbitrary arrests. In research conducted in 2009 and early 2010, Human Rights Watch documented a range of abuses, including police abuse and arbitrary detention, physical threat, assault, and verbal abuse by private individuals, and blackmail, extortion, and robbery. HRW also examined how media and religious institutions have contributed to the climate of violence. Read more…

Heteronormalizing the Black female athlete: the case of South Africa’s Caster Semenya

On August 19, 2009, South African sprinter Caster Semenya, crossed the 800 meter finish line in world record time at the Berlin World Track and Field Championships. Rather than focusing on her triumph, however, world media focused on her gender. A As a fellow Black female athlete, however, I unfortunately watched as an eighteen-year-old was publicly forced to define her gender, sexuality, and femininity to the world, simply because she ran, perhaps, too fast to be a woman. Read more…

Putting survivors back in the centre of the anti-violence movement

Girls and women who have survived violence are increasingly marginalised and silenced by the very services set up to support them, say Sophie Taylor and Davina James-Hanman from the AVA Project. The movement to stop violence against women and girls was instigated and led by survivors, determined that others should not suffer as they did. As the womens movement grew in the 1970s, consciousness-raising groups allowed women to discuss their experiences with each other and share the reality of their lives; this process gave women the opportunity to see connections between their experiences and to begin to identify these as systemic discrimination rather than as individual failings. Read more…


		Internships				Members

Internships

Call for interns

As the Gender and Media Diversity Centre is the knowledge centre of Gender Links, it is only natural that the GMDC would assist in passing that knowledge along to the next generation. With this ideal in mind, Gender Links actively engages with youth through our growing Internship programme. Working closely with partner institutions, the GMDC crafts the scope of this programme based on the needs of the particular university or institution of higher learning. We are currently seeking interns for our next cycle, January to June 2011. Read more…

Members

University of Limpopo

The University of Limpopo signs MOU with Gender Links

In a recent turn of events, the University of Limpopo have become an official member of Gender Links. This was brought about after the recent Advisory Group Meeting held in Johannesburg on October 12, 2010. We welcome their partnership, and look forward to exchanging publications, interns on attachments and working to incorporate gender into their curriculum. Read more…

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Diversity Exchange, Issue 13, December 2010

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