Mogadishu, 22 October 2025 — The Somali Women Journalists Organization (SWJO), in partnership Fojo Media Institute, hosted a one-day workshop focused on strengthening gender-inclusive journalism education. The event brought together journalism students from Somali National University for an intensive program aimed at embedding gender perspectives into media education and future content production.
The workshop was formally opened with keynote addresses by SWJO Chairperson Farhia Kheyre and Abukar Albadri, representative of Fojo and International Media Support (IMS) in Somalia. Both speakers emphasized the critical role of inclusive journalism in promoting gender equity and advancing responsible media in Somalia. They urged the next generation of journalists to challenge gender stereotypes and ensure equal representation in their storytelling and editorial choices.
SWJO Chairperson Farhia Kheyre giving her keynote
Core Objectives and Sessions
The training centered on:
- Presentation of baseline research findings on gender gaps in Somali media content and newsroom practices, delivered by gender researcher Zainab Mohamed Hassan.
- Introduction of SWJO’s Gender Tracking Tool, a practical resource for monitoring gender representation in media outputs.
- Group discussions on integrating gender in journalism curricula, where students explored practical strategies for fostering inclusivity from the classroom to the newsroom.
SWJO Program Manager Mohamed Halaneh also gave an overview of SWJO’s work in advocacy, research, training, and policy engagement aimed at empowering women in media.
Participants committed to sharing insights with their peers through follow-up class presentations, helping extend the impact of the workshop across multiple cohorts.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment by SWJO and Fojo to promote gender equity in Somali media — both through institutional change and grassroots capacity building.
