Global Affairs journalist and CNN’s Chief International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour (CBE) has commended the organisers of Women in Journalism (WiJ2015), the yearly gathering of female journalists taking place in Lagos on June 26 this year.
In a statement sent through CNN’s Communications Director, Jonathan Hawkins to WiJ2015 Coordinator Yomi Owope, Amanpour, expressed her delight that the second edition of the Conference is taking place after a successful first outing in 2014, adding that women journalists are among the world’s finest. She also stated that being female makes them more appropriate for the reportage of important issues affecting the world.
“Female journalists are among the best and brightest in the world. There is nothing we cannot do! And often our gender makes us much more suitable for reporting certain vital issues.”
Underscoring their powerful role as the fourth estate of the realm, Amanpour equally called on all journalists to continue keeping government on its toes by reporting objectively and without fear regardless of gender: “what all journalists must always do is keep holding power accountable and keep comforting the afflicted.”
Amanpour concluded by calling on journalists to “stay strong” in going about their challenging and often perilous duties.