| dc.description.abstract | Kenya's media industry has grown tremendously since post independence era.
Similar to other professional fields, women have played a significant
contribution to the growth of Kenya's media industry despite various hurdles.
Women journalists and media practitioners have contributed immensely to the
growth of the media industry in Kenya but their role is not fully recognized and
appreciated. This study had one overall objective: to assess the role of women in
the growth of media in Kenya since 1990 to 2008 with particular focus on female
employees of KBC.
From the research findings, it is clear that the number of women in the
Communication field has increased dramatically, and it continues to grow. On
average the number of female employees outweighs the number of male
employees at KBC. Despite this, the number of women in top management level
is minimal. Women have influence on editorial content with particular emphasis
on human rights issues and developihertt matters affecting society. The findings
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clearly indicate that women's contribution in the growth of media has been
consistent over the years due to their participation in fields that were otherwise
considered too technical and difficult.
Respondents made several recommendations and the most important they noted
was access to training followed by equal promotion opportunities with their
male counterparts and good working conditions. Respondents also noted that
Kenya is generally well advanced in the media industry as compared to other
African countries. The age of women joining the media has been reducing with younger women finding it a favorable career choice, but opting out to less demanding careers as they approach their 30s. This study confirms the role women journalists have played in ensuring development matters are highlighted through the media; hence they have influenced policy decisions on matters such as child labor, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), forced marriages and gender discrimina tion. | en |
