The newsroom is no longer a boys' club

There was a time when it was almost expected that the people making the biggest editorial decisions in Namibia's media were men. Women were in the newsroom. They reported stories, presented the news and worked behind the scenes, but very few sat at the head of the table. Today, that is changing. For the first time, some of Namibia's biggest media organisations are being led by women. New Era has a woman Managing Editor. The Namibian is led by a woman. Future Media is led by a woman. At the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Menesia Muinjo is the Director General. For many people, these appointments may not seem like a big deal. But for women in journalism, they mean everything. When Gwen Lister founded The Namibian, she entered an industry where leadership was almost entirely in the hands of men. She showed that women could investigate, challenge those in power and lead a newsroom just as well as anyone else. She helped open a door that many women are now walking through. As a young woman in journalism, seeing women lead some of Namibia's biggest media houses gives me hope. It reminds me that leadership is possible. That one day, another young woman will walk into a newsroom believing she belongs in every room, including the editor's office. These women did not get their jobs because they are women. They got there because they worked for it. They have the experience, the skills and the leadership to do the job. Their success reminds us that when women are given the same opportunities, they can lead at the highest level.

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