By: Fatou Krubally &By Tijan S. Touray
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD 2025), the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WoJAG) has issued a strong call for urgent improvements in the working conditions of women in the Gambian media.
Despite their growing presence in newsrooms, women journalists continue to face major challenges, including unequal pay, underrepresentation in decision-making roles, and sexual harassment. WoJAG is demanding swift action from media institutions to close the gender gap and create fairer workplaces.
This year’s IWD theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” highlights the need to unlock equal opportunities for women. However, WoJAG argues that this vision remains far from reality for women in Gambian media, where gender-based discrimination persists.
Women journalists play key roles across the industry as reporters, editors, presenters, and even media owners. However, according to WoJAG, they are still underrepresented in leadership and newsroom decision-making positions.
“Most journalism graduates today are women, yet newsrooms continue to be dominated by men at the top,” the association noted.
Studies conducted by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) in 2020 revealed that nearly 50% of female media workers have faced workplace discrimination based on gender. The reports also found that women journalists earn less than their male counterparts and often lack written employment contracts and essential benefits like health coverage, professional training, and social security.
WoJAG President Annette Camara stressed that equality in media is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
“Women in the media are shaping nations, leading industries, and making history, yet we are still fighting for equal pay and fair treatment,” she said. “We will not stop until every opportunity is equal, and every young girl knows she is unstoppable.”
Under the IWD campaign theme ‘Accelerate Action,’ WoJAG is urging media employers to take concrete steps toward gender equality. The association is calling for:
Fair employment practices: All women journalists should be hired with written contracts, paid fairly, and provided benefits, including health insurance and professional development opportunities.
More women in leadership: Media houses must bridge the gender gap by appointing women to editorial boards and management roles.
A safe work environment: Newsrooms should adopt the GPU’s Sexual Harassment Policy to ensure female journalists work without fear of abuse or discrimination.
WoJAG Secretary General Banna Sabally emphasized that achieving gender equality in media will require collective effort.
“Creating an equitable and non-exploitative media space for women is not an easy task, but it is one we must all work towards,” she said.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, WoJAG is urging Gambian media employers to step up, take action, and ensure that women journalists receive the fairness and respect they deserve.
