FIFA has engaged with local aspiring and active female sports media journalists by hosting a workshop in conjunction with the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
A dozen participants are involved in Women in News and Sport (WINS), a program initiated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade designed as a training and mentoring for female journalists in the Asia-Pacific region.
The program, which covers a diverse range of media skills, seeks to mentor participants through a sports event promoting women in sport from elite to community levels, and amplifying women’s voices in sports coverage.
Papua New Guinea is the first country where WINS is taking place, with participants from Samoa and Tonga also participating
On Wednesday in Port Moresby, participants were treated to a diverse range of FIFA speakers, headlined by #ENDViolence campaigner and England international Alex Scott, and Sarai Bareman, FIFA Chief of Women’s Football.
Some of the other areas covered included TV broadcast and commentary, online journalism and social media, competition operations, refereeing and technical development.
One of the workshop participants was Mae Koime, a two-two Olympian in the 100 metre sprint, who is now working on building a career in communications. Koime said the event was a rare opportunity to learn a broad range of skills.
“I want to go back and share what I have learned here with women who have taken up sports journalism,” she said. “As a communications officer and journalist, it is important to have women participating. Being able to work at the tournament has been really been a great experience for us, because major events are rare here.
“It was also inspiring to hear the experience and journey of Sarai (Bareman) also being from the Pacific, most of us women have had similar experiences in a male-dominated environment. I hope to be able put some of the learnings here into practise, and make a difference.”
The final words of inspiration and empowerment came from Scott, who herself has taken the hard road to the top.
“It is about being strong, powerful, independent women and believing in yourself.”
Fifa News