Female Politicians Strategise on How to Use Media for Electoral Campaigns
Female politicians from two geo-political zones of south east and south south, rose from a two-day workshop in Uyo Akwa Ibom state at the weekend, determined to improve their media visibility...
Female politicians from two geo-political zones of south east and south south, rose from a two-day workshop in Uyo Akwa Ibom state at the weekend, determined to improve their media visibility strategies and enhance their electoral prospects in the 2019 general elections.
The women were participants at a workshop for “Female Politicians on Effective Strategies and Methodologies in Engaging Media for Visibility During Electoral Campaigns” organized by the International Press Centre with EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria.
The workshop which had seasoned journalists as resource persons was able to help the female politicians build their confidence in dealing with and accessing the media; enhancing their visibility in the media; improving on how to write their profiles; knowing how to write press releases and mastering the general basics of working with the media.
It also took them through the basics of using and managing social media platforms to promote their issues, win followers and attract voters. They were taught how to open and operate facebook, twitter, whatsapp, youtube and instagram.
Welcoming participants to the workshop, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director International Press Centre, said the series of workshops that IPC, with the support of European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) is holding for female candidates across all the geo-political zones are meant to respond to the challenge of poor media visibility for female politicians, especially women.
He said findings from a monitoring of media coverage of elections in 2015 conducted by the International Press Center showed that media reportage was skewed in favour of male politicians and candidate. “This remains an unwelcome development more so as various electoral regulatory frameworks especially the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage to give candidates vying for political offices irrespective of political parties equitable coverage” said Mr. Arogundade.
In the first presentation, Ms Ada Agina-Ude, Convener, WEFON and President GADA noted that because very few women make it to important position and so when they are reported on, they feel they have reported on them negatively but that may not be true as others especially men may also have been reported upon in similar ways.
She admonished the female politicians to project well bringing out the best in themselves always.”If women politicians presented themselves well as intelligent, articulate and are consistent, the media would shift attention from reporting on how they look or what dress they wear.
In his own presentation, Mr. Nsikak Essien, former Editor of National Concord, took the women through a journey of the different types of newspapers and exploring how to access them. He advised the women to always identify which medium would best suit their purpose and should not go for stories in a national newspaper whereas all that is needed is news in the community newspaper.
The participants were taught how to be proactive and build good relationship with editors and reporters by building a data base of media contacts. They were also advised on how to react to negative media mention either to ignore or to deploy the right of reply to issue a rejoinder.
Mr. Essien further said that when asked a question to evince a negative response, the female politician should learn how to re-order the question to suit the kind of answer that would present her positively.
Contributing to the plenary, Mr. Ayo Aluko-Olokun, Online Editor Nigerian Democratic Report, further explained to the women the definition of news and how to write press releases or press statements and how to organize a press conference.
Discussing “The Social Media and your Campaigns: Understanding the Usefulness and Knowing the Pitfalls to avoid”, Mrs Blessing Olisa-Akaeze explained how the different social media platforms function and how the women could explore them for their campaigns.
The session further helped some of the women to set up individual and business accounts on the different platforms. Some of the women also shared experiences on how they have used the social media platforms to promote different causes and raise funds for their campaigns.
Chairperson Akwa Ibom chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs Uduak Utip Ekong said that her organization is always ready to promote female candidates in the media if approached.
A serving member of the Cross River state House of Assembly Hon (Dr) Itam Abang said what the women need to win election is goodwill, humility, integrity and good reputation. She said where the men would spend N50,000.00 to achieve a goal a woman would spend just N5,000.00. She said people would naturally give you money if you preserve your name well.
Before the workshop was declared close, a mock town hall meeting/press interviews was organized for some of the women who answered questions after which a review session was conducted to highlight shortcomings and suggestions proffered for future engagements.
Some of the participants expressed their satisfaction at the workshop and also expressed their gratitude to the IPC and the EU-SDGN for putting it together. Hon Victoria Aniekwena said “it was a nice workshop and an eye-opener and educative too”. Mrs Ngozichi Okorie urged “fellow women to support themselves”. Hon Chinwe Lilian Nwachukwu said the workshop was “informative and educative
