Her Media Diary

Dr Joyce Kirabo is a lecturer and trainer with over 13 years of experience in mentoring, coaching, teaching and delivering training programs. She holds a PhD in business Administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In a world where stories of resilience and determination often go unheard, the journey of Dr. Joyce stands out as a beacon of hope. Growing up as a refuge...

Rebecca Mutiso is the Manager of Accreditation and Compliance at the Media Council of Kenya. Rebecca's story begins in Nairobi, where she grew up in a vibrant household with her siblings and cousins. Despite facing poverty, her parents instilled in her the importance of education and self-advocacy. From a young age, Rebecca was known for her outspoken nature. This early foundation shaped her ambit...

Hinda Mohamoud is the Chief Editor of Bilan Media, Somalia's first all-women media team. Hinda leads a team dedicated to covering social issues often overlooked by traditional media in Somalia, such as climate change, people living with albinism and HIV/AIDS, and period education for young girls. Hinda's story begins in a conservative environment where women are often sidelined. Growing up, she wa...

Nolwazi Tusini, an award-winning broadcast journalist, queer feminist, social justice activist and Program Director, Amplify South Africa. Nolwazi shares her experiences with loss, particularly the impact of losing her mother at a young age. This profound loss not only shaped her personal journey but also influenced her career path, pushing her towards journalism as a means to advocate for change....

Ruth Butaumocho is an award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, gender, and development trainer with over 25 years of media experience. She is also the Managing Editor of The Herald Newspaper in Zimbabwe. As a journalist, Ruth has dedicated over a decade to gender reporting, using her platform to highlight the issues faced by women in Zimbabwe. Her personal experiences with domestic violence have fuele...

Omnia Shawkat & Raghdan Orsud are two remarkable women who have co-founded media organizations (Andariya and Beam Reports) dedicated to serving the Sudanese community. Their journey is not only inspiring but also highlights the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in a male-dominated industry. As female co-founders, Omnia and Ragdan reflect on the unique challenges they encounter in the media...

Amie Joof is a journalist, activist, and women’s rights advocate, with over 35 years of experience. Madame Joof discusses her passion for journalism, her commitment to gender equality, and the importance of mentorship in empowering the next generation of women leaders. She also shares insights into the challenges and triumphs of advocating for women's rights in the media landscape. She stresses th...

Gloria Edukere is a talented writer, advocacy specialist and corporate communications expert from Nigeria. She found her passion for writing at a young age, often retreating under the dining table to craft her stories. This early love for writing laid the foundation for her successful career in corporate communication. Gloria discusses her career path, sharing how she transitioned from writing poe...

Melkamsew Selomon is a journalist with over 15 years of experience and also a Board Member of the Ethiopian Media Women Association (EMWA).Melkam shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Addis Ababa to becoming a prominent journalist and advocate for gender equality in media. She discusses her early life challenges, her pursuit of education, and her transition into journalism. Melkam's path...

Mwape Kumwenda is an accomplished journalist and co-founder of Crown TV, Zambia with over 1o years of experience. She shares her experience growing up in Kabwe, Zambia where she witnessed firsthand the vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in her community. This early exposure to gender-based violence fueled her passion for justice, initially leading her to aspire to become a lawyer. However, c...

Sarah Mawerere is a senior broadcast journalist at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). She shares her experience growing up in the rural Busoga Region of Uganda, where she faced numerous challenges, including the loss of both parents at a young age. Despite these hardships, she pursued her dream of becoming a journalist, inspired by the voices she heard on Radio Uganda as a child. The Kigali De...

Regine Akalikumutima is a remarkable teacher turned media owner and gender activist from Rwanda. She shares her personal experiences and involvement in the Kigali Declaration, a pivotal step in combating gender-based violence in media across AfricaHer journey into media was sparked by the challenges she observed as a teacher. Many of her students struggled with issues stemming from their home envi...

Pamella Makotsi is a prominent Kenyan journalist and media executive with a career spanning over two decades. Pamella shares her inspiring journey from a humble upbringing in Kenya to becoming a prominent figure in the journalism world. She discusses the impact of her large family on her confidence. She also talks about how her early experiences sparked her passion for journalism. Subscribe to Her...

Sophia Kudjordji is a Ghanaian Corporate Communications expert with a rich background that spans over two decades. In this episode, Sophia shares her journey, challenges, and the lessons learned along the way, from her dynamic childhood in Ghana to becoming one of the top ten most influential women who have risen to the top in journalism and public relations. Subscribe to Her Media Diary now on yo...

Asmaa James is a renowned journalist, activist, and philanthropist from Sierra Leone with over 20 years of experience in broadcast journalism, management and advocacy for women's rightsIn this episode, Asmaa shares her journey from being a volunteer in a local radio station to rising through the ranks to become a ​presenter, ​producer, ​editor ​of ​the ​day, ​and station ​manager and ultimately es...

Introducing Her Media Diary, a podcast where Dr Yemisi Akinbobola speaks to some of the most influential women leaders in media. From personal experiences of workplace dynamics to burning global issues like climate change, food security, and peacebuilding. Her Media Diary tackles these topics and more. Bringing you first-person accounts and solutions from across the world. Her Media Diary podcast...

Rosebell Kagumire is a trained journalist, rights advocate, digital strategist, public speaker and award-winning blogger, with expertise in human rights, gender, peace and conflict issues. In this episode, Rosebell recounts the challenges and dangers she faced as a young female journalist reporting from the front lines in South Sudan. These experiences exposed her to the harsh realities of war and...

Peace Hillary is an accomplished Rwandan journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media profession. She currently serves as the Managing Director of Family Magazine, which focuses on gender issues, family promotion, women’s empowerment, combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and family conflicts. Peace shares her journey from surviving the Rwandan genocide, to becoming a prominent voice...

Phathiswa Magopeni is a South African-born media personality, and former Head of News and Current Affairs at the South African Broadcasting Corporation. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the SABC. Phathiswa recounts her journey from her early life in rural South Africa, through her university years, and into her impactful career at SABC. She opens up about the struggles she faced, t...

Her Media Diary Episode 24: "Honing the Craft" with Eugenia Abu Eugenia Abu is a distinguished broadcaster, author, media consultant, and one of Nigeria’s finest broadcasters and compères renowned for anchoring the 9:00 pm news on the Nigerian Television Authority for seventeen years. Eugenia’s advice to aspiring broadcasters is clear: focus on the craft, be patient, and always be prepared. These...

Kim Fox is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JRMC) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) Egypt. She primarily teaches Audio Production and other journalism courses, and her research interests include Podcasting, Audio, Radio, Media Representation, Teaching with Technology, and Social Media. Her story speaks to media professionals who have either tr...

Dr Sarah Macharia is a gender equality champion, women’s rights advocate, and the global coordinator of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), which is the world’s longest-running initiative focused on researching and promoting gender equality in media. This episode unpacks the slow pace of change despite extensive efforts in advocacy and training, and the need to embrace incremental progress...

Professor Nancy Booker is an Associate Professor and the Dean at the Graduate School of Media and Communications, The Aga Khan University, Kenya. Her story speaks to women and media scholars who understand the need to show up regardless of how inconvenient it might be, just to ensure that they are seen and heard by people who might just need their presence as an assurance that it is actually possi...

Prof Lilian Atanga is an accomplished scholar and researcher in Gender and Discourse Studies. Her research interests lie at the intersection of language, gender, politics, and the media in African contexts. Prof Atanga’s story speaks to all media scholars and educators who have made their marks in the industry and to prospectives who wish to make a positive impact on their communities through gend...

Comfort Mussa is a prolific, multi-award-winning Cameroonian journalist with over 15 years of experience covering underreported stories, with a special focus on issues affecting women and girls. Comfort's story speaks to all women out there who experience any form of chastisement for speaking up for themselves and refusing to conform to social constructs. She strongly advocates the need for female...