BY Karungi Doreen
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, as Rwanda joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Press Freedom Day in Kigali, there were awards to media houses that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to promoting gender equality in their reporting.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Synergy Female Journalists Association, with the aim of enhancing gender equality in the media sector. The awards recognized media outlets that are actively promoting gender equality, both in the content they provide as well as in their daily professional practice, regardless of the gender of employees or contributors.
Synergy Female Journalists Association Chairperson Mutesi Doreen appreciated sponsors and partners who have not given up on the gender equality campaign. She commended media houses that have embraced the principle of gender equality, saying:
“We are thankful to the sponsors who fund us, and we appreciate the media houses that have made a serious commitment towards fostering gender equality.”
She also called on the public to adopt independent and free media so that it can fulfill its role effectively.
Rushingabigwi Jean Bosco, Director of Media Regulation Department, in Rwanda Governance Board, explained that due to limited resources, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not yet being applied in extensive practice in Rwandan journalism, but interest and willingness to apply it are growing.
He also acknowledged that female journalists still face issues based on cultural perceptions and stereotypes but reassured them that ongoing partnerships exist to counter such issues.
Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) Chairperson Mutesi Scovia thanked Synergy Female Journalists Association for the event and urged journalists to uphold professionalism, ethical standards, and integrity while reporting.
She stated: “Even though we journalists are not politicians, we work where politics is being made.” She also called on journalists not to publish stories that could create instability, even if factually true, and that good journalism must prioritize public interest and harmony.
Jonas Nyman, who represented Fojo Media Institute, emphasized the importance of journalists learning how to use AI tools appropriately because the technology can indeed improve their everyday journalistic tasks. Meanwhile, Ayanone Solange, Chairperson of Rwanda Journalist Association (ARJ), explained that media freedom implies the ability to gather, process, and distribute information without restriction, in deference to individuals’ rights and privacy as established by the Data Protection Law.
She also commented on the usefulness of digital tools for journalism, but underlined they must be used responsibly.
She recalled an observation made during the event, saying: “AI will not replace humans, but it will replace journalists who lack AI skills.”
