BY CAROL-ANNE GALO
DELI Sharon Oso, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, as a prominent female figure in the country’s little media circle, Solomon Women’s Newspaper decided to have her queried over her personal views on Women in the Media Industry here in the Solomon Islands.
Solomon Women Newspaper (SWN): How do you feel women in the Media Industry in the country are performing so far?
Deli Sharon Oso (DSO): “I think the performance of women in the Solomon Islands Media Industry varies. There are the new comers and the old timers. It is obvious that the former group needs much training for improvement.”
SWN: How do you feel women in the Media Industry should work as advocators/journalists/reporters through mainstream media?
DSO: There seems to be a serious lack of aggressiveness and passion in the manner female reporters in mainstream media goes about their daily reporting. It would be good to see more female journalists compete with their male colleagues for the front-page story or the top story in Television or Radio News Bulletins.”
SWN: Do you think women in media can change the Media Industry? How?
DSO: “Yes, women have the ability to either positively or negatively change the media industry. I am sure positive change is what everyone is driving at and talking positive change, women can make this happen by fully understanding their role as a journalist/ reporter and ensuring professionalism in their reporting.”
SWN: From your long term service in the media industry, what do you personally feel or see has changed; either good or bad in the media in tackling women’s issues?
DSO: “To be honest, I’ve never seen much advocacy in the past about women’s issues than at present and I think it is due to the increased level of advocacy about women’s rights by different organizations in the country like the UN Women, NCW and so forth. These organizations have helped change the perception of a lot of men. Especially those form patrilineal communities have about women which is good.”
