GEM Summit News, 11 August 2008

In this edition …

– Debating gender
– From policies to action
– Swedish diversity
– Watching watchdogs

Stories from the GEM Summit

Men of Principle
By Fonseca Upite and Tony Khoza
“I openly admit it. My wife is more intelligent than I am,À says Bheki Maseko, with a sense of fulfillment on his face. “I know that not many men would proclaim this, but this ought to be the direction of the 21^st century man. Her success is my success.À
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New GEMSA Chair – woman of action
by Rishi Raj Ramnauth  
Mauritian born Loga Virahsawmy, the newly elected Chairperson of the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network is a born fighter and she makes a difference in the lives of people around her.
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Community media can make women’s voices count!
By Arthur Mwansa
“The establishment of community media in is giving a voice to the voiceless, especially women and children.. .”   According to some, the power of community media to give women both a say and a stronger role to play in the media is unlimited.
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Debating gender in the newsroom
By Gloria Ganyani  

Gender in the newsroom was  hot debate during the media practice and training session on the second day of the GEM Summit in Johannesburg, .     According to one male participant, female journalists in Southern Africa are left behind when it comes to promotions because they refuse to carry out challenging work like carrying cameras, preferring to do light duties.    
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Media policies must move from paper into action
By Arthur Okwemba  
While the adoption of gender-aware HIV and AIDS policies by 52 media houses across Southern Africa is a cause for celebration, media analysts are quick to point out that the next and perhaps larger hurdle is to move the policies from paper into action.
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Ammu Joseph, journaliste indépendante, observatrice et activiste des médias
par Marie-Annick Savripène
Ammu Joseph, dont l’exposé portera sur le plafond de verre si asphyxiant pour les femmes, coiffe plusieurs chapeaux. Cette journaliste indépendante, observatrice et activiste des médias et occasionnellement chargée de cours Á  l’Ecole de Journalisme de Bangalore en Inde, évoque les progrès accomplis par la presse indienne en matière de genre, de même que les défis qui l’attendent…
Texte complet…

Thumbs up for media literacy course
By Moses Magadza
Can media literacy   shift power from the producers of media messages to the consumers? Perhaps the strongest endorsement came from one of the youngest participants, Sharonice Bosch, “The media can no longer take us for granted. We are watching you (journalists),À she said after a stirring presentation on the implementation and achievements of the course in her country.
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Everything is possible, but…!
By Miriam Madziwa-Sibanda
Despite being one of the countries in the world regarded as a torchbearer of gender equality, still has some skeletons in the closet.
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Gender in tabloids
By Purity Zamagugu Zwane  
According to tabloid editors , tabloids too are  making moves to get it right when it comes to gender.   “We give women the voice, we have changed how we talk about them, we are now more sensitised,À said Corina Julie.
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Keeping an eye on media
By Gloria Ganyani
While some people believe that the citizens, both men and women, should be media literate and be able to monitor, analyse and interpret media messages and engage with the media for it to be responsive, others suggest that the media codes of conduct and ethics should guide and control media practitioners.  
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Click on the documents below to download the articles

Editorial
by Pat Made
For a long time, journalists have been on the frontline of taking the flak for any deficiencies in the media. Inaccurate story À“ the reporter got it wrong. No context À“ reporter did not do his or her research. No investigative or in-depth coverage of issues À“ the journalists do not have the knowledge and need to be trained. The list goes on and on.
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Vox pops
Is single sex leadership good or bad? -some comments from delegates.
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Photos: Trevor Davies

Editors: Deborah Walter,  Pat Made