The refusal of women in the media to take up challenges such as running shift, covering difficult assignments, sexual harassment and the perception that women, especially in the broadcast media do not get partners were some of the reasons attributed to the little impact they make on the media scene.

Speaking at a workshop on 'Human Rights Reporting for Women in the Media' in Accra on Tuesday, Ms Sarah Akrofi Quarcooe, President, Women In Broadcasting and a lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, said most of the time the rights of the women in the media were infringed upon due to their refusal to take up challenging roles. This she said had caused them to be relegated to the background and denied their promotions at times.

She said when this happened, women were not able to influence decisions hence the low coverage of issues relating to them.

She said men dominated the field during the initial stages of radio broadcast in the country in 1935, and well after the 1960's women were not allowed to read news but rather produce because of their voices.

Ms Akrofi Quarcooe said when women started practicing journalism, they were denied the right to host and discuss certain programmes such as politics but rather pushed into issues relating to childbirth, cooking and house-keeping.

The Lecturer said that although there were about 147 radio stations in the country, only a few of them gave airtime to issues relating to women and asked editors not to discriminate against women in assigning reporters. Assignments should be based on the reporters' experience and professionalism.

Ms. Akrofi Quarcooe also advised media practitioners that in their quest to make money, they should not be interested in publishing sensational stories which sometimes breed conflicts but rather address issues which would help in the development of the woman and the nation as well.

"Sensational stories may sell but let us think of the interest of the nation first," she said.

Source: GNA