There was a marked increase in female speakers this year at MoJoCon, said Krishna De in the all female Women in MoJo panel discussion. Women speakers (very slightly) outnumbered men at the conference, which featured 28 male and 29 female speakers.
Moderator Krishna said MoJoCon founder Glen Mulcahy made a conscious effort to be more inclusive of women this year, as the first event in 2015 had very few female speakers.
The fact that mobile journalism is an accessible, affordable way of producing content was also emphasized throughout the panel by speakers Corinne Podger, Emma Meese, and Bianca-Marie Rathay.
Corinne Podger outlined four advantages of MoJo: It’s lightweight, you own it, it’s easy to use, and it’s affordable.
Emma Meese pointed out that phones are not gendered products, and that anyone can try free or affordable apps.
"The portability of MoJo is a field leveller. There’s a big difference in who can report and how they report if their kit fits in a backpack," Podger said.
These advantages don’t just help women, but older journalists who want to upskill by starting off with their own phones, and later on upgrade to professional-grade equipment and apps.
Meese said that she was able to establish two MoJo newsrooms in primary schools in the Gurnos Estate in Merthyr, Wales, adding that the experience was "one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done."
Big question from #mojocon this a.m.: Why aren't there more women in mojo? Three takeaways from our panel discussion courtesy of @BiaRathay pic.twitter.com/gNvcGT4TQj
— RTÉ (@rte) May 5, 2017
Despite more women graduating from journalism studies, many inequalities remain.
"By the 1980s, many western countries were producing more female graduate journalists than men," Corrine Podger said.
However, she added that in 2011 nearly two-thirds of the world's reporters were male, and that men made up about 73% of senior management positions, according to an International Women’s Media Foundation study. Podger added that there were fewer women in senior roles, in sports reporting roles, and working as foreign correspondents: "Women started hitting glass ceilings at middle management."
Great stories about the importance of community journalism from @EmmaMeese on the women in MoJo panel at #mojocon pic.twitter.com/NQZnAmD7FG
— Cian Wilkins (@CianWilkinsss) May 5, 2017
Women do have an interest in journalism
In one of the schools where Meese started a MoJo newsroom, only girls turned up to the journalism classes: "Seventy-five percent of the junior MoJos I was training were female."
Meese talked about a nine-day programme at Cardiff University where students can get paid and train in mobile journalism, going on to get work experience. Last year, the programme trained NEETs - young people who are not in education, employment, or training.
"Men and women should help each other out."
Women are not the only targets of sexist attitudes. Men can also experience sexism in the workplace.
"Sexism can be found in both genders," Corinne pointed out, adding that men’s earning power can also be affected if they take paternal leave.
Throughout the talk, the audience were encouraged to recognise and challenge unconscious biases and support their colleagues regardless of gender.
"If you see talent, encourage it," said Emma Meese.
Angie Weisgal
