Women Media Practitioners: The Endangered Stakeholders in the Kenyan Media Arena

Abstract

Knowledge and information are necessary bonding agents for human development and progress. Those with greater capacity to create, access and disseminate knowledge and information ultimately gain a competitive edge in society. The Media is an organ charged with the responsibility for educating, entertaining and informing society. Media professionals in Africa and Kenya in particular, face challenges in the course of their work. Women media practitioners face unique challenges in a field that is largely dominated by men. These challenges have resulted in gender abuse and violation of media ethics. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by women media practitioners in Kenya, with a view to suggesting lasting solutions to these problems. The specific objectives were to: identify the media specializations in Kenya; identify specific media professions in which women have ventured; identify media professions that are largely male-dominated; assess the performance of women media practitioners in comparison to their male counterparts; identify challenges faced by women media practitioners and; suggest possible solutions to these challenges. The study was qualitative in nature and questionnaires were administered to purposively selected respondents. The target population constituted female news anchors, reporters, program producers, editors and technical operators. The study hopes to aid in empowering women media practitioners in order to enable them go beyond the glass ceiling in the world of media. It will also aid in streamlining the media fraternity in Kenya.

Keywords: Media Practitioner, Gender, Media Ethics, Media Arena, Women.