Mogadishu, 30 April 2022: Ms. Amina Hussein Mohamed was named as the head of programmes at Somali National Television (SNTV), a department within the federal government’s ministry of information, culture, and tourism, early this year.
The new head of programmes was born and raised in Mogadishu, where she was also educated.
Her journalism career began in 2012, while she was still a student at Plasma University, working for several radio and television stations in the capital, including Radio Hurmo, Radio Qaran, Sky Radio and Universal TV, before joining SNTV as a reporter in 2014.
Ms. Mohamed graduated with a degree in journalism in 2013.
Thrilled by the opportunity, she expressed her appreciation to the director for offering her the opportunity. She also thanked her female colleagues for their warmth and support.
However, she attributed her professional success to her efforts.
“As a journalist, I worked incredibly hard and was always available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of my colleagues would question why I worked so hard. They even say you shouldn’t be doing this because it’s a man’s job, but I always smile and say: I’m doing what I was meant to do,” Ms. Mohamed said in an interview with Somali Women Journalists Organisation (SWJO).
Mohamed Abukar, SNTV director, commended her professionalism, saying he appointed her the head of programmes because of her determination, hard work, and wealth of experience.
“I’m sure she’ll do well in her new role,” he said.
According to the director, the government-owned TV station has already hired many female journalists, most of whom are Somali National University (SNU) graduates. He urged female journalists to persevere and learn more about their profession.
Mr. Mohamed Abukar is convinced that female journalists, like their male counterparts, have the potential to be leaders in their fields.
“I believe that women could hold top positions and do a better job. In 2018, SNTV was one of the Somali media organisations that signed the gender declaration spearheaded by the SWJO in collaboration with IMS-FOJO [which promotes gender equity in the media sector],” he said.
Aside from her promotion, SNTV’s new head of programmes spoke about the challenges that female journalists face in their work.
“Although some people will encourage and applaud you for your work, others will often look at you differently when they notice or know you as a journalist because it is mostly considered a man’s job,” she said.
Rather than listening to what others have to say or think they should be doing, she advised the female journalists to put in the effort, educate themselves, and advance in their careers. “Those are the strategies that women journalists can use to overcome challenges,” she noted.
Ms. Mohamed’s story demonstrated that, even though Somali women journalists continue to face obstacles in their careers, there has been a significant shift in public knowledge and awareness of these issues in recent years, which should be applauded.
Even so, there is still much work to be done until gender parity is attained in the media industry in general. SWJO is devoting a great deal of time and effort, as well as meeting with media directors on a regular basis, to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the gender declaration.
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