The Inquirer Newspaper boss is one media manager who has been bent on applauding various sectors of voters, especially females, in the just ended Legislative and Presidential Elections across the country.
Madam Winnie Saywah-Jimmy, who also praised female journalists across the country, especially those who in some areas, vigilantly outnumbered their male counterparts while covering the elections, stated that journalism is a practical profession that needs to be jealously guarded, and not by taking sides with politicians or political parties.
The Managing Editor cautioned her colleagues at the helm of the profession not to kill the dreams and aspirations of the reporters by willing their media institutions to political alignments, stating that elections are seasonal, but the media watchdog role is permanent and must be measured by integrity and impartiality.
However, Madam Saywah-Jimmy, in thanking female voters, who made up more than half of the voting population across the country, including practicing female journalists who actively covered the elections, described the performance of her colleagues in the field as excellent and unmatched, noting that they were sophisticated and professional in their discharge of their duties, emphasizing that her colleagues exhibited a high degree of professionalism, integrity and ethical standards.
“I am proud of all female journalists who were out there alongside their male counterparts covering the elections. They carried out their tasks professionally and showcased high degree of integrity. I say, kudus to all of them,” Madam Jimmy said.
Madam Jimmy, who is also the outgoing Vice president of the Female Journalists Association (FeJAL), observed that career women face a lot of challenges, especially when executing critical assignments, of which female journalists are no exception, but the manner and form in which they covered and reported on the just ended October 10 elections were exceptional and they deserved to be commended.
“Our colleagues, especially those in rural communities, went all out, to the remotest parts of the country, to report on the elections. Can you imagine that we had female journalists reporting from as far as Barrobo District in Maryland County and other hard-to-reach communities, where one has to walk for hours before reaching a registration or polling center. I bow my hats to them,” she stressed.
Madam Saywah-Jimmy however encouraged her colleagues not be weary, as the most critical part of the electoral process will berth on November 14 for the run-off, noting, “Like we did in the first round of elections, we must do the same and go for the news. We must not get complacent this early for the recognition we are getting from our partners. It is time that we prove our worth,” she encouraged her colleagues.
“Our sophistication as journalists puts duty bearers and the population in check. We don’t only cover and report the news, but we provide a sense of security but without arresting power. So, in short, we are the eyes and ears of the society. That is why we should continue to be professional, ethical, and work with integrity, considering that our gender does it differently,” the Inquirer boss cautioned her colleagues.
Madam Saywah-Jimmy made the statement on Monday, October 30, 2023, when she introduced some student journalists who had taken assignment at her office in Monrovia from the United Methodist University.
She encouraged the interns to emulate their colleagues and wear the garment of journalism in their daily lives, with high integrity, passion, perseverance, and professionalism, emphasizing, “Unlike other professions, the media never sleeps, and asked them have eyes, ears, and nose for the news at all times.”
“The news is all around us daily. We have to look for it, smell it, see it, and report it. As the news never sleeps, we too, as journalists, should never sleep, and as journalists, we are obligated to our nation and we should see its growth from every positive direction,” she concluded.
