Media women want support

The Coordinator of the Uganda women media association (UWMA), Mrs Margaret Ssentamu, has requested a German organisation to give more scholarships to women, reports Lillian Nalumansi. "Most of the training opportunities that come into media houses are given to men. That is why women in the media are not performing so well because there is not enough training," Ssentamu said. "Most of the promotions depend on covering political and economic beats which are mostly covered by men while women are left to cover feminine issues like fashion and family. Friedrich Ebert Foundation should consider sponsoring more women for diplomas in mass communication and degrees so that we can compete favourably with men," Ssentamu said. She said this last week at Namirembe Guest House where Fritz Kopsieker, the resident representative of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, was closing a three day UWMA workshop for women on court reporting for the electronic media. "Women should have the courage to cover beats to do with economics and politics. We have been sponsoring women to do certain courses at UMI and shall continue to do so," Kopsieker said. Ends.