Each week, frayintermedia highlights a journalist doing good work on the continent and honours them as our #FaveOfTheWeek. Meet award-winning Tanzanian health and environmental journalist Jenifer Nelly Gilla who is passionate about telling those stories of how environmental and health issues compromise the human rights of local communities.
How did you become a journalist ?
I was employed at The Guardian Limited in 2012 as a proof reader but my dream was to become a journalist. When I saw the post that they needed a proofreader, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to do what I want to do. I applied because I had a degree in linguistics so it was easy for me to get the job.
I started working and I remember in 2014 when I was signing my second contract, I asked my boss if he could shift me to a reporting desk and he said no because I didn't have a journalism background.
I felt bad and disappointed. But then I said to myself, I have to show him that I can do journalism without a journalism background. I've seen good journalists who do not have a background in journalism and they're good and they're doing a great job.
So, I started writing stories whenever I got time and I spent my holidays travelling to the villages to write feature stories and give them to the editor. And they were published. I improved as days went on.
Since then, I had two jobs in the office: I was proofreading and I also wrote until December last year. Management decided to shift me to the reporting desk after winning the FEMNET award. I had started studying towards a diploma in mass communication so it gave me an added advantage.
What does winning the African Gender Equality 2021 climate award for your story mean to you?
Winning the feminine gender equality award was a dream come true for me because I had never won an award before or even competed. I used to think that these awards are made for some journalists, you know, the journalists that I saw winning these awards every year. So, I thought they're the ones who are supposed to apply, compete and win – not me.
I remember last year, I was a fellow in the African Women Journalist Program (AWJP). It was a fellowship conducted by my mentor Naima Mungai who told me: that “you know Jenifer, you have good stories, have you ever competed for any awards?”.
I said no and she said: “Try this year and you will thank me”. I listened to her advice and I applied for one in my country in an open category because they didn't have an environmental category.
So, I applied in an open category and it won second place. The other one was the FEMNET awards and it (my story) got first place. I couldn't believe it, I never thought I would win an award in my life.
It changed my mind and my soul and how I think about these awards. It has motivated me to do more. I have to write more stories on women, to help them raise their voices on the things that matter to them including climate change, health and other other stories.
What draws you to health and environment stories?
Health and environment are the most important sectors in our lives as they affect us directly. The impact of health and the impact of environmental issues in human lives can be seen directly.
But unfortunately, it's among the under-reported fields in the country. The topics do not have enough journalists who are specialised. I am one of the few who are trying to report and I'm so blessed to be specialised in these topics.
I don't think that I chose these topics, God directed me to them because every training that I have received involved health and environment, so I think it's just God.
Despite all the challenges, why do you stay in the profession?
I stay because I can see what I write brings impact to the people and some of the stories that I have written have brought impact because the government has worked on the challenges reported.
I get motivated to do more, to write more so that the government and other stakeholders could work on other issues too.
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