The WAN-IFRA Women in News (WIN) Leadership Accelerator program kicks off in Vietnam. The 2-month long (August-September 2020) career training for women journalists and editors will include sessions on career development, media management, and gender balance in content. With Covid-19 changing the way news organizations operate, the program will help women journalists acquire new skills and build their capacity for more successful careers.
The launch in Vietnam comes following the successful launch in Myanmar earlier this year. It builds on WIN’s successful Leadership Accelerator, which has been offered in 13 countries across Africa and the Arab Region. The WIN flagship leadership media development program is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
More than 600 women journalists and editors have benefited from the program since it first launched ten years ago. Participants in the program receive Certified media management training; Professional skills training; Gender balance and sexual harassment training, 1-1 coaching to create a 3-year career roadmap; and, Facilitated group mentoring with peers.
“Despite challenges arising from the pandemic, we are delighted that we have been able to bring the Leadership Accelerator to Southeast Asia starting with Myanmar and now in Vietnam. Newsrooms were under increased pressure before Covid-19 hit and needed to rethink their business and operational models. This program will equip some of Vietnam’s leading women journalists to ensure they can be part of leading this change in their organizations, and ultimately build a stronger and more representative business,” says Melanie Walker, executive director, Women in News & Media Development, Wan-Ifra.
Typically held in-person, this year’s training has moved fully online over concerns from the spread of Covid-19. Similar training will be organized in other countries in the region, respectively, throughout the year 2020.
“One of the major benefits of the Leadership Accelerator program is the 1:1 coaching we offer. Our coaches provide guidance on career opportunities and decisions. More importantly, they can also offer advice and support to participants who are struggling to find balance, especially in these chaotic times. We know that women are disproportionately disadvantaged from Covid-19 and that for many working women, the added household responsibilities have had an impact on their jobs and mental health. The program and the relationships participants build with their coaches will hopefully offer much-needed support systems,” said Jen Teo, director, Southeast Asia, Women in News.
Journalists who are attending the training work in 9 media organizations
A group of qualified local trainers provides the training. They have expertise in media management, media laws, human resources, data analysis, gender balance in news content, and sexual harassment in newsrooms, financial management, and management leadership.
About Women in News
Wan-Ifra’s Women in News (WIN) aims to increase women’s leadership and voices in the news. It does so by equipping women journalists and editors with the skills, strategies, and support networks to take on higher leadership positions within their media. In parallel, WIN partners with media organizations to identify industry-led solutions to close the gender gap in their newsrooms, boardrooms, and in the content they produce.
WIN is currently working with more than 80 media from 15 countries including Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe (WIN Africa); Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine (WIN Arab Region); and Myanmar and Vietnam (WIN Southeast Asia).
WAN-IFRA’s global affiliate members, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs support the Women in News program through to 2023. Contact and inquiries to Tran Le Thuy WIN Country Lead, Vietnam – tranle.thuy@womeninnews.org
